Assets declaration: Penang CM 'agrees' with Nazri's excuse

Jan 20: DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng (right) apparently agrees in principle with the excuse given by minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz in opposing a proposal for cabinet ministers and their kins to declare their wealth.

Nazri had earlier said that such a move if implemented would pose a "danger" to ministers and their family members.

Lim, who together with Penang Exco members had already declared their assets in public with details furnished on the state government's online portal, however said the "danger" in this case was to national security.

"BN should also understand public concerns that failure to do so may also endanger Malaysia. Those aspiring to be leaders should put their country first by being more willing to endanger themselves than endangering Malaysia,” said the popular chief minister.

He added that while he understood BN’s concern that declaring their assets could invite some personal risks, he reminded that leaders should have considered the nation's interest first before their own.

Lim believed that public declaration of assets involving ministers, deputy ministers and state Exco members would ensure that public interest was protected.

'MACC not qualified'

The proposal for cabinet members to declare assets was made by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Following the Penang state government's decision to have all its Exco members' worth published online, MAAC panel chairperson Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh had said that a similar declaration involving ministers, but only to the MACC, had been suggested to prime minister Najib Razak on December 12.

Nazri (left) however disagreed, saying cabinet members should only declare their assets to the prime minister.

Lim retorted by saying it was not enough to declare assets to the PM or the MACC.

Saying he had lost faith in the MACC, Lim attributed this to the Commission's failure to act against BN leaders despite the many reports lodged.

He said due to this, any declaration of assets must be verified by an internationally renowned audit firm.

“The deteriorating state of corruption in Malaysia is highlighted by the decline in Malaysia’s rankings in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index from No. 37 in 2003 to No. 60 last year.

"For this reason, verification by an internationally renowned audit and accounting firm would attract greater credibility and reliability than by MACC,” added Lim.

Related:

Assets declaration: 'What's Nazri afraid of?'