The minister says it will be dangerous if outsiders found out how much an individual is worth. But deputy ministers from MIC and MCA see no issue with the proposal.
PUTRAJAYA: Public disclosure of the asset declarations by ministers and their family members can be dangerous for the individuals involved, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.
Disagreeing with the proposal, he said: “If we make these details public, it may endanger the individuals concerned….this is especially so as it will also include personal details.”
Quizzed further on the so-called “dangers”, Nazri refused to elaborate beyond saying that it would be dangerous if outsiders discovered how much an idividual was worth.
The minister said that Cabinet members should not be subjected to rigorous requirements like declaring their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“Members of the cabinet and their spouses are not duty bound to declare their assets to MACC. We should only do (declare) it to the PM.
“MACC’s task is only to investigate if there is any irregularity … that’s all,” he added.
MIC, MCA deputy ministers welcome proposal
Meanwhile, MIC vice-president SK Devamany welcomed the proposal, saying that it would reflect the transparency of the government.
According to the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, there would be nothing wrong in revealing the assets.
“We do not need to hide anything when we have got nothing to hide,” he told FMT.
Similarly, MCA Youth chief and Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong agreed with the proposal.
However, he stressed that such a move rested in the hands of Barisan Nasional’s leaders.
“I have no problem with declaring assets, but I do not know to what extent we would have to disclose (our assets). I say okay, but it is up to BN leaders to decide.
“This is not about personal ego. I will follow and abide by the collective decision,” he told FMT.
Facilitate investigations
The proposal was made to the Prime Minister’s Office by the MACC advisory board, which also suggested that copy of the asset declarations be given to the MACC.
Board chairman Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh said besides reflecting the government’s transparency, the move would also help facilitate investigationgs by the MACC if a report is filed.
The board made the proposal during a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak last month, and according Zaitun, the former was receptive of the idea.
Zaitun said the requirement for the asset declaration also covered assets and liabilities of spouses and children and should be in the form of a statutory declaration.
“If the declaration involves assets belonging to the individuals concerned alone, the property and assets can be transferred to the names of their spouses or children,” she said.
She said that for a start, the requirement would only be for members of the federal administration and hoped that the move would also be carried out by the state governments later on.
At present, cabinet members only have to declare their assets to the Prime Minister’s Office every year, but the declarations are not made public.
Last week, Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria proposed that a special task force be set up to identify an appropriate mechanism for the implementation of the declaration of assets by judges.
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