What inheritance tax? Loke says not once discussed by Cabinet, tells DAP MPs to ‘get facts right’

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 13): Transport Minister and DAP secretary general Anthony Loke today shot down news reports that the Anwar administration is mulling reintroducing inheritance tax, calling it a mere rumour as he criticised his own party colleagues for believing it.

Addressing delegates at the party’s Federal Territories chapter’s convention here, Loke said the tax was never discussed in Cabinet meetings.

“There is this rumour, that supposedly several taxes will be introduced and one of them is inheritance tax,” he said during his address here.

“This is just an assumption. But people actually believe it. Even some DAP lawmakers believe it.”

The rumour that next year’s federal budget could see the reintroduction of levy on inheritances first surfaced in Utusan Malaysia, which quoted an analyst who said it could be one of five new taxes the Anwar administration would roll out as it bids to raise revenue and reduce the fiscal deficit.

Shortly after, five MPs from Sarawak’s DAP chapter issued a statement to say they would vote against the tax if it is brought to Parliament.

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen asserted that it was a unanimous decision reached at the DAP Sarawak State Committee. Chong claimed news about the tax had caused “grave concern” among Sarawak voters.

Loke, speaking to reporters after opening the local chapter’s state convention, was asked what is the party’s official position about inheritance tax.

The minister did not address the question but said the matter is a “not even an issue” and that he doesn’t want it to be polemicised.

“Like I said, it’s just an assumption, it’s not even an issue, so why are we even making it a polemic,” he said.

“The point I’m trying to make is that my advice to the public and especially to our own DAP members, is not to believe in all assumptions. Always fact check.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to table Budget 2025 this coming Friday. – Malay Mail