Malacca polls: Bersama candidates declare assets via SDs, voters can 'invite' them home

 

Bersama has imposed a strict condition requiring all 16 of its candidates for the upcoming Malacca state election to declare their assets through statutory declarations before receiving their nomination letters - which they have adhered to.

Bersama co-leader Rafizi Ramli said the asset declarations of all 16 candidates are now publicly accessible at bersama.org.

Rafizi then criticised other parties for not requiring their respective candidates to declare their assets.

“Asset declaration is a benchmark of each party’s commitment to preventing corruption and money politics.

“Umno’s refusal to declare assets reinforces the public image often associated with corruption.

“PAS’ refusal confirms that the party is not taking corruption seriously in order to remain flexible as a potential partner of Umno.

“Meanwhile, PKR, DAP and Amanah’s refusal to make asset declarations, in my view, exposes their hypocrisy when it comes to fighting corruption,” he said at a press conference today.

Bersama’s asset declaration move comes alongside its “invite a candidate” initiative, which would allow Malaccan voters to make appointments directly through the party’s website to invite candidates to their homes or residential areas to discuss local issues.

Rafizi said the approach was aimed at breaking away from a feudal political culture, where politicians become VIP guests during elections but disappear after winning.

“This is a new political culture that we are emphasising to restore the concept that a politician actually works for the people,” the former economy minister stated.

During the 15th general election, PKR required its candidates to declare their assets, with most of its 72 parliamentary candidates making their declarations public.

Rafizi, who was PKR deputy president at the time, also said in 2023 that PKR candidates in the six state elections were required to declare their assets.

DAP and Amanah, meanwhile, did not have the same blanket requirement for their candidates in GE15, although DAP representatives had previously declared their assets after being appointed to the cabinet.

Shadow budget

Meanwhile, Bersama is also focusing on policy changes through the presentation of its 2027 shadow budget on Oct 7 at the Bersama headquarters.

Commenting on the matter, Rafizi criticised the government’s annual budget tradition, which he said often turns into a platform for distributing election “goodies” rather than addressing structural economic problems.

“Policy matters include, for example, taxation, regulations, labour policies and wages. These are all matters that affect our pockets every day, but they are not discussed much.

“That is why, year after year, the budget presented by the government becomes an event where people wait for goodies that will be announced,” he said.

Rafizi added the government’s interest payments had now reached RM54 billion a year, following an effective interest rate of 4.4 percent on loans taken when Perikatan Nasional was in government.

“The elephant in the room is the interest we pay every year, RM54 billion, and it is increasing. It is expected to reach more than RM70 billion by 2030.

“So, that actually should be the issue of focus in the budget. However, I am confident that if we do not present a shadow budget, this issue will simply disappear,” Rafizi said.

The shadow budget document will be published at bersama.org - at 9pm on the day of its launch. - Mkini