For some political candidates, an asset declaration is a way to ensure financial transparency and accountability. It could also help you relate better with the rakyat.
However, some fail to see the point behind it despite politicians from various parties such as PKR, MUDA and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) having done so in order for the public to evaluate if MPs have used their position to enrich themselves.
In his weekly lecture in Marang, Terengganu today (November 11), PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang stated that PKR’s decision to compel its candidates to declare their assets prior to election day was a form of stupidity.
When asked to comment on whether PAS would follow PKR’s footsteps in having election candidates declare their assets, Abdul Hadi stated that, “Asset declaration is sometimes a form of stupidity. They want to show off.”
“What should we show the public? We should show that we are good people.”
Fellow coalition member agrees with him
Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has also downplayed the necessity for the coalition’s candidates to declare their assets.
He said that all Cabinet members will declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which is a practice popularised by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his stint as Prime Minister.
“We don’t need to follow (everyone else who declared their assets), they can declare their assets but they still name candidates who are involved in graft charges.”
“This is all theatrics,” added Azmin.
Do you agree? Or should every candidate running in GE15 be made to declare their assets publicly in the name of transparency?
