PN's Hamzah Zainudin rubbishes reports of IRB 'raid' at his home, says will take action
KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has reportedly warned he would take action — including lodging police reports or suing — over accusations hurled against him, as he questioned reports that described his house in Damansara as being “raided” by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
In a press conference last night, Hamzah who is also secretary-general of opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN), reportedly claimed that defamatory allegations were being made against him ahead of the six upcoming state elections.
“I want to inform that much slander has been done against me, I don’t want to answer to those slander and this news that is spread wide,” the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary-general was quoted saying by local daily Utusan Malaysia, adding that he already has examples of the alleged slander against him and that he will “hold” such information first until the time comes to use them.
Separately, local daily Berita Harian also cited Hamzah as questioning who used the word “raid” while he claimed to have been subject to slander, and that so far, he has asked his officers to look at all official, unofficial news or at social media.
Hamzah reportedly said he would provide proof in the upcoming state elections that there was alleged slander, which he claimed is intended to hurt the reputations of PN leaders including its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
On Thursday this week, Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris confirmed that there was a raid on Hamzah’s house on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was not informed about the raid at Hamzah’s home, and said that that would be a matter for the IRB and investigative authorities.
Hamzah is the latest PN leader who was reported to have been investigated.
PN chairman Muhyiddin, who is also a former prime minister, is already on trial for alleged abuse of power under an anti-corruption law and alleged money laundering, while former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has been charged with alleged corruption linked to the government’s Jana Wibawa scheme.
