Tuan Ibrahim: Asset declaration comment not about forbidding, its about caution

PARLIAMENT | PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (photo, above) once again emphasised that the hadith he used when commenting on the issue of asset declaration is just a backup to his argument and not a ban on any party to do so.

Tuan Ibrahim reminded all the parties involved to remain cautious.

"I have said this many times, this hadith is not forbidding asset declaration.

"Only the Prophet was cautious because of the many scams. Our country has laws so that all civil servants have to report to the IRB, to be taxed and to declare so there is no problem," he said when met by Malaysiakini in the Parliament lobby today.

Tuan Ibrahim said this in response to PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's reminder of a challenge Tuan Ibrahim issued four years ago.

“In 2015, Tuan Ibrahim challenged [former premier] Najib [Abdul Razak] and [his wife] Rosmah [Mansor] to declare their assets.

“So if in 2015, God did not ask [for assets to be declared], why did you [Tuan Ibrahim] challenge them to do so?” he asked.

The domestic trade and consumer affairs minister said he disagreed with the PAS leader on this matter and stressed that Islam emphasised integrity.

Tuan Ibrahim's asset declaration challenge to Najib and Rosmah came in response to the Wall Street Journal's explosive report on the billions in the then premier's personal accounts.

On Monday, Tuan Ibrahim said PAS would not support the government's motion to make it compulsory for all MPs and their families to declare their assets, which was later passed in the Dewan Rakyat through a voice vote without objection from the opposition.

Apart from putting the lawmakers and their families at risk, he also argued that Islam discouraged the act of displaying wealth.

“There is one hadith (collected sayings of the Prophet Muhammad): If God gives you wealth, do not display it, as there will be many who will scrutinise it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the opposition should focus on the motive behind the asset declaration, which is to eradicate corruption at all levels.- Mkini