IPOH, May 23 — Koon Yew Yin, a former director of construction giant IJM Corporation Berhad, wants Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to step in and end what he claims to be political persecution from the Attorney-General (A-G) for his past support of DAP and Parti Amanah Negara.

The 85-year-old said he had faced many problems with his credit and taxation history due to his open physical and financial support of the two political parties when they were in the federal Opposition.

“I also have been campaigning for the Opposition in the last two general elections. As a result, the previous Attorney-General had branded me as a persona non grata.

“Three income tax officers raided my house and took away some files. The A-G also instructed the Maybank Investment senior manager to withdraw the RM40 million margin facilities each for me and my wife,” he wrote in an open letter to Dr Mahathir posted on his blog last Sunday.

Koon said he faced a lot of difficulties after the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) here froze his current account with Maybank.

“Now I do not even have a credit card,” he added.

Koon said his last drawn salary was 20 years ago when he was IJM Corp director, but said he had been summoned for questioning by the IRB for not submitting his tax returns since.

He also claimed he was told to submit financial documents showing his profits and losses for the last seven years of investments in shares.

“All I know is that profit from share investment is not taxable and in the history of Malaysia, no one has been taxed before.

“This policy is to encourage Malaysians to invest in locally listed companies to help them make profit and pay more tax,” he said.

In the letter, Koon said he was Dr Mahathir’s business partner when the latter founded Bumicar Sdn Bhd.

“Together we founded MBM Resources Bhd. You sold your company to us before you became the prime minister,” Koon said.

He said MBM Resources eventually started the manufacture of Perodua cars in 1992 after teaming up with UMW and the Japanese partners.

“I appeal to you to instruct the new Attorney-General to stop the harassment so that I can see how you can achieve your Vision 2020,” he concluded in the latter.

A-G Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali is currently on garden leave.

Contacted by Malay Mail today, Koon said he has yet to receive a response to his letter from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Maybe after you publish it, my letter will reach him,” he said.