KUCHING, May 16: State Reform Party (STAR) welcomes the call by National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) to ministers, deputy ministers, administrative personnel of ministries and MPs to declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
However, its president, Lina Soo, said this should also include their children or/and wives as some of their children are also “mega-rich beyond imagination”.
“Is it a coincidence that children of MPs are also fabulously good businessmen having interests in hundreds of companies?” she asked in a statement today.
Soo was responding to a recent announcement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after he chaired the 8th Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption (JKKMAR) and the launching of the myPortal initiative.
Dr Mahathir said the federal government was ramping up efforts to curb corruption by extending the asset declaration initiative to include opposition MPs, where they must declare their assets in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Opposition MPs can exercise some powers. For example, they have the power of criticising the government, and they have (the) free voice (to put forward) the criticisms made by somebody or others.
“(Thus), they (the opposition MPs) must also declare their assets. This has to go through the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat before it can be initiated,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also said GIACC had proposed five key performance indicators (KPIs), including asset declaration initiatives, to show the commitment and accountability of all ministers.
As for Sarawak, Soo added that all of its assemblymen and state cabinet members, including their spouses and children, should also declare their assets.
She said this information should be made public as the public had the right to know what their tax money was being used for.
“For Sarawak, our (Gabungan Parti Sarawak or GPS) government must also ask all of its ADUNs (assemblypersons) to declare their assets, including their spouses and children.
“It should be public information. If they want to be public persons holding public office, they must be accountable,” reckoned Soo.
GPS parliamentary whip chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday said the state government welcomed the move by GIACC.
“Sarawak was already heading towards such an initiative that is already recognised by the MACC when all state cabinet members become the first state cabinet to sign the Corruption-Free Pledge (IBR).
“In fact, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had instructed all GPS MPs to declare their assets.
“Now, the state government is waiting for the format set by GIACC and MACC so that all asset declaration submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office, including GPS MPs, can be sent together,” he said. — DayakDaily
