Najib must make a stand on assets declaration after Nazri disappointment, says Ramon

I am deeply disappointed with senior minister YB Dato Seri Mohd Nazri's statement that Ministers should only declare their assets to the Prime Minister and not to the MACC. He has thus rejected even the simple proposal by the MACC Advisory Panel, that a copy of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities, should be given to the MACC just "to keep".

However, the Minister is right in saying that this important matter should be discussed by the Cabinet. But for the same reason , I respectfully submit, he should not announce the REJECTION OF THE MACC PROPOSAL, without Cabinet first considering the MACC proposal .

As he has advised the MACC Panel chaired by Puan Sri Zaitun, he too should not jump the gun and thus cause much public confusion and doubts as to the Government's seriousness in combating the scourge of corruption .

The public would also be concerned about the degree of consensus in Cabinet in fighting corruption, since another senior minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob has at the same time, gallantly welcomed the MACC Advisory Panel's constructive but easy proposal .

Najib must make a stand

I believe that it is now only right and proper for the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak to come out quickly and strongly to comment on the MACC Advisory Panel's proposal, to clear any the air .

I hope the Prime Minister and the Cabinet will collectively agree to also send copies of the Asset and Liabilities Declaration by Cabinet Ministers, to an Independent Judicial Commission or the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, to increase public credibility and confidence .

For security and safety reasons, the old Asset/ Liabilities Declarations may be kept confidentially . But any new assets and liabilities that are acquired from a current date and definitely AFTER the General Elections, should be made Public and OnLine for all the citizens to see clearly and to monitor carefully!

This is a golden opportunity for all political Leaders , regardless of political affiliations , to show and even to prove to the public and the world, that they are truly and fully committed to a Clean One Malaysia .

We hope our leaders will respond to the public call for more stringent and transparent ways of protecting the reputation and promoting the integrity of our leaders and our country, for the benefitand well being of our beloved Rakyat (citizens) and Nation as a whole .

Thank you and Happy Lunar New Year !

Ramon Navaratnam is a former top civil servant and past president of Transparency International