Motion to compel MPs to declare assets will be tabled tomorrow

A motion to compel all MPs to declare their income and assets to the MACC will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow, says deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming.

He said the motion, to be tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong, is part of the government's fight against corruption.

The Pakatan Harapan government had encouraged all MPs to declare their income and assets, but opposition members were not receptive to the idea, he said.

"The government waited for a year, but no opposition members, whether from Umno, MCA, MIC or PAS, has declared their income and assets.

"If the Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) has declared, why can’t other MPs do so?” he said to reporters after attending the Perak Wanita DAP regular convention in Ipoh today.

A check by Bernama at MACC's Asset Declaration Portal at 2pm today showed that 124 or 89.2 percent of government MPs have declared their assets, while none from the opposition has done so.

Nga, the Perak DAP chairperson, said if the motion is approved, legal action could be taken against MPs who fail to declare their assets.

He hoped that this compulsory declaration of assets can be extended to members of the Dewan Negara.

"With this move, we can improve the country’s standing in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which was at the 61st spot in 2018,” he said.

About 100 delegates attended the convention which saw six motions being tabled and debated, including those calling on the government to increase subsidy for childcare centres, and facilities for old folks homes, to ease the burden of families.

There was also a motion which urged the government to resolve the issue of stateless children.

- Bernama