(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): IRB chief executive officer Tan Sri Zainol Abidin Abd Rashid said yesterday that the board would have data on all Malaysians (data mining) and there was no way anyone could escape the IRB.

Better data should mean more effective collection of taxes. Unfortunately, besides special operations to track down tax defaulters and the increase of 700 accountants, Tan Sri Zainol did not mention the need to monitor officers who use unwarranted methods to deal with tax-payers. He should have a reliable surveillance on his officers, verifying complaints against them.

IRB should have special personnel to train officers to deal with tax-payers in a fair and just manner. It should eradicate errant officers.

Last year, the board collected RM 48.6 billion. We hope this year, the revenue will be bigger. All defaulters should pay up. This will help to reduce the budget deficit that has been going on for seven years.

Parliament passes the Income Tax Act, enabling IRB to collect taxes. But, it does not ask tax-collectors to misbehave towards tax-payers. Hence, IRB should deal with all errant officers, to protect the interest of the public.