How rich are Malaysia's top civil servants and ministers?

Written by J. D. Lovrenciear

There have been numerous reports especially in the new media about the extravagance of top civil servants and ministers and MPs and MBs. Even their family members have been accused of leading jet-setting lifestyles, having a range of expensive cars in their garage, over-whelming jewellery, and courting the world of the rich and famous here and abroad as well, having lands and businesses that would have taken an entrepreneur a light year to build, etc. In some instances even the dwellings of certain individuals were deemed fit for kings.

Top civil servants upon retiring were also said to take off with very attractive appointments as Board members and Executive Directors of leading private sector organizations. This also means that on top of receiving their pensions, they also get paid handsomely, sitting on these Boards.

Perhaps, in view of the impending general elections the Honourable Prime Minister should make it mandatory for all top civil servants and ministers as well as even those from the ‘opposition’ MPs to publicly declare their assets.

In addition, since the government is using tax payers’ money to meet out monthly pensions for retiring civil servants, does it also not make sense that they should forgo their pensions if they choose to take up appointments in the private sector?

Further, the Prime Minister would take the government of the day to greater glory if he could also institute impartial investigations into the many accounts of accumulated wealth by individuals while they were in public office. He must scoop even those who were in office well ahead of his time as Prime Minister and have since faded from the public opinion radar.

There is nothing wrong if individuals accumulate wealth. But the issue seems that there is a general feeling that such opulence would have been well beyond the monthly pay packet of those in public service.

If the Prime Minister can carry out a thorough public accountability exercise without fear or favour, he would have done justice to the nation, the citizens, government and of course to the UMNO political party of which he is a senior member.