Thanks to his chedet.com blog, I find tun Mahathir to be the most funniest of the political Malaysian blogging family..

A funny example

Yesterday I read in The Star newspaper Mahathir was quoted:

"It was reported in newspapers that as Petronas adviser, I am paid RM15.000 a month, not by the Government but by Petronas. I would like to state that this income is taxable and a sum of RM 4.500 is deducted monthly…"

Then on his blog chedet.com he writes:

"In fact if newspaper reports are to be believed…"

As a funny expatriate I then ask the question: does that imply you are earning more than what the newspaper is implying?

Most likely not, because you cannot hide your salary from income tax, BUT you can hide everything else that is non taxable, and that’s where the funny part is hiding…

I have been on the corporate ladder high enough to know that my travel expenses where not tax deductible and you get to fly business class. So what we do in Europe is: use the company’s secretary to convert the business class tickets in economy class tickets so the entire family can fly for FREE…

The one earning the most money smiles the hardest

Not taxable earnings example

Let’s take an example of a transparent European Government. Then you understand how anybody can say:

I am willing to serve for free,
just let me keep my tax free benefits…

Tax free benefits for a member of the European parliament

A legislator from Finland can fly round trip to Brussels, where the Parliament meets, for about $240. But under Parliament rules, members are reimbursed at the highest economy price, meaning that a Finnish member could receive about 10 times the cost of the trip.

The pension plan is also generous, offering any member over 60 who has served at least five years about $1,500 a month.

There is no ban on relatives working as Parliament aides, and relatives of at least two dozen members do. There are taxi allowances, free language lessons and daily expense stipends, even on days when no official business is conducted. Most benefits are tax free.

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