How about vetting PM candidates?

It was more fear than cheer which welcomed the announcement by prime minister Najib Razak that all candidates from Barisan Nasional at the next general election must be cleared of corruption by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Najib’s statement is in response to the proposal by MACC's Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel that all political parties submit their candidates list for clearance by MACC.

I agree in principle that election candidates are people of honour, possessing integrity and competency. After all, the wealth and interests of the nation would be entrusted to these elected leaders, and wealth is irresistible.

But I do not agree that MACC should be tasked to vet the candidates.

Firstly, it is not empowered to vet election candidates. All it can do is to investigate and prosecute upon having sufficient evidence that a person has committed an offence punishable under the MACC Act.

Then again, one wonders what MACC would do even after obtaining substantive evidence to prosecute any candidate who it endorsed earlier.

Secondly, the clearance from MACC surely would come with a disclaimer that it was made based on information and disclosure by the candidate at a certain point of time. As such, MACC would be absolved of any misinformation and misinterpretation.

Hence the question: To what extent MACC could claim that its investigation is comprehensive enough to verify the source of income and accumulation of assets by a certain politician?

Thirdly, let’s walk the talk. MACC must first clear the long list of corruption cases, especially those involving the big fishes.

The truth is that the candidates themselves must come clean. They should declare their wealth and assets so that the public can judge the accumulation of wealth within their years in office, and include the wealth acquited by their family members.

It is time for a new culture in our politics. Let the candidates declare their promises, their manifestos, and their assets.

A person of integrity will not be afraid of this proposal.

For the record, all PAS Youth Exco members have voluntarily declared their assets during the recently concluded PAS annual general assembly.

Although not all of them are candidates at the coming election, it is definitely a preventive measure against potential misconduct once they become part of the government. In the meantime, the response from UMNO Youth has been the opposite.

At the same time, one wonders whether Najib would lead by example, allowing MACC to vet the assets accumulated by him and his wife for the public to judge.

Integrity is about deeds. Words, on the other hand, are cheap.

On second thought, I think MACC should vet candidates for the prime minister post!

* The writer is on the executive council of PAS Youth and director of the wing's Policy Studies Institute.

-harakahdaily