FORMER prime minister Najib Razak must still pay RM1.69 billion owed in tax as the law requires him to, even though he is appealing to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), according to an affidavit filed by the tax body.

The affidavit by IRB’s Monitoring Unit assistant director Hisyamuddin Mohd Hassan said Section 103 of the Income Tax Act 1967 required a person appealing the tax assessment to still pay the computed tax due, Malaysiakini reports based on the affidavit.

Najib owes IRB RM1.69 billion for income tax between 2011 and 2017. The IRB had served the assessment notices on Najib in March, and he had filed his appeal on April 16.

The government then filed a suit against Najib in June. On August 8, Najib filed an application to stay the proceedings for the IRB’s suit, pending his tax reassessment appeal with the revenue board.

He is arguing that his taxes should be reassessed because part of the taxes owed were derived from donations.

Hisyamuddin said based on the law, the court did not have to entertain any plea by Najib over the tax amount.

The government is also seeking annual interest of five percent on the sum from the date of judgment until the date of realisation, cost, and any other relief deemed fit by the court. – August 13, 2019.