PETALING JAYA: An anti-corruption activist has called on newly-elected MPs, especially those from Pakatan Harapan, to declare their assets, in keeping with election promises.
Pakatan Harapan MPs must also declare the assets of their spouses and family members aged 18 and above as promised in its manifesto, said Terence Gomez.
Gomez, chairman of the Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism, told FMT that family declarations would discourage assets being camouflaged by transferring them to immediate family members.
Gomez also said the declaration of assets should not be a one-off practice after an election or when a person is appointed to a ministerial post. It should be an annual declaration so we can determine if wealth is accumulated during their time in office, he said.
Gomez described the recently concluded polls as an “electoral battle involving numerous millionaires”, even based on just those who declared their assets before the general election.
And while there was nothing wrong in being wealthy, it was important to know where it originated, he said.
Gomez urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to get MPs from the other coalitions backing the government to do the same.
“Given that the incoming government would comprise parties whose members have had serious allegations of corruption levelled against them, this is imperative.”
In the run-up to the 15th general election, candidates from PKR, Muda and PSM had declared their assets.
DAP said only those of its candidates who were elected would be required to do so while PAS called asset declaration “stupid,” adding its candidates were also reluctant to do so.
Perikatan Nasional said its candidates would only declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should the coalition come to power and its MPs were ministers.
According to Barisan Nasional candidate Khairy Jamaluddin the coalition had a similar stance. - FMT
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