The cabinet’s Special Committee on Anti-Corruption (JKKMAR) has agreed to reintroduce asset declarations for members of the government administration.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the matter was decided during a JKKMAR meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today.
“The meeting agreed that asset declarations by members of the administration will be introduced after a new and more comprehensive reporting format is improved,” it said in a statement.
Public asset declarations were introduced during the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2018 to promote accountability and transparency.
It was eventually extended to all MPs through a motion in the Dewan Rakyat the following year, though Umno and PAS lawmakers refused to comply.
The information was publicly displayed on a MACC website.
In the months after Muhyiddin Yassin took over as prime minister, however, a watered-down version of the website was launched.
By 2021, a disclaimer was added stating that the asset declarations are only displayed for three months after they have been submitted to the MACC, which meant there is usually no information posted on the website.
The website has since become defunct.
Meanwhile, the PMO said the JKKMAR has also agreed in principle to improve the Whistleblowers Act 2010 to provide a more reliable and effective complaints channel, and for the Auditor-General’s report to be tabled regularly in cabinet meetings.
Starting with the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report, the PMO said the report will be tabled with a better-structured format at cabinet meetings so that immediate and effective follow-up can be taken against every issue raised.
No abusing support letters
On another matter, the PMO said the government takes a serious view regarding the use of letters of support that have elements of corruption and abuse of power.
“As such, a ‘Guideline on Handling Support by Members of the Administration in Government Business’ will be issued to ensure letters of support are no longer abused for private gain,” it said.
As for the JKKMAR itself, the PMO said the committee will be enhanced and become known as the Special Cabinet Committee on National Governance (JKKTN), which would promote good governance principles in the public sector.
“The JKKTN will also be enhanced to look into issues of weak governance involving statutory bodies including public institutions of higher learning, subsidiaries, and entities of government interest,” it said. - Mkini
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