MACC wants ministers' families to make declarations

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has proposed a rule to compel cabinet ministers to declare to cabinet whenever their family members were bidding for government contracts or applying for soft loans.

At a press conference today, MACC deputy commissioner Sutinah Sutan said this was part of seven proposals designed by the commission to combat graft, following public outcry over the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal. 

Under the proposal, ministers will only need to declare their interest if they were sitting in decision making bodies of government projects involving their families. 

"MACC proposed to includes such clause into the (ministers') code on conduct, to compel them to make a declaration," she said.

According to Sutinah, the MACC had scrutinised four government bodies over the NFC incident - the Finance Ministry, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Incorporated and the NFC itself. 

This allowed it to identify seven weaknesses and formulate the seven proposals. 

[More to follow]