ASSET DECLARATION - a means to DETER politicians, Ministers, etc from breaking the law - abusing their powers, through corrupt means to 'steal' or accumulate monies and other benefits >> it only works if ASSET DECLARATION requirements are made every 6 months(or annually) > This allows the PEOPLE to check and determine whether their duly elected/appointed MP/ADUNs/Senators/Ministers/Cabinet Members are still CLEAN/BERSIH.
Of course, wrongly obtained monies/assets and benefits may not end up in PERSONAL accounts/names > hence the requirement for the asset declaration to also be made by the immediate family,...and maybe other NGOs/Companies of the said politicians.
FIRST Asset Declaration happens immediately after they get elected(or obtain power) > This is NOT to determine how rich and poor the politician or his/her family are - It is just a honest declaration of wealth/assets when they first come into power...FULL STOP.
When the 2nd Asset Declaration happens, best not later than in a year, it will allow the PEOPLE to compare with the 1st Asset Declaration. We need to see whether they have become richer over and above their salary/allowance as MP/ADUN/State or Federal Cabinet members ....If they have, then the likelihood of abuse and 'corrupt practices' is there...
Then the 3rd, 4th and 5th asset Declarations...until the day they are no longer in power as people's representatives or member of government.
SADLY, the then BN, and later PH and PN governments never seem to ask for a 2nd, 3rd or later Asset Declaration...and, as such the very PURPOSE of ASSET DECARATION as a Check and Balance against power abuse and 'corrupt practices' failed..
Again, some MP candidates are doing the ASSET DECLARATION now - it is of no use, unless there are timely Asset Declarations after they are elected, at the very least EVERY YEAR...
Previously, some parties use to get MACC to 'vet' their candidates before elections >>> but then, even Najib was declared 'corrupt free' - but now we find that it was not at all true ...and he is now a CONVICTED CRIMINAL for offenses of abuse of power, corrupt practices >>> MACC or the police should never been involved in these 'political games' which eventually deceived the RAKYAT into believing that these candidates were CLEAN...
Some politicians simply do not understand the reason behind ASSET DECLARATION - as mentioned earlier, it is simply to show that once in power as elected reps(MPs and ADUNs) and as members of the Executive(Cabinet at Federal and State level) that these person do not abuse their power or engage in 'corrupt practices' to accumulate wealth through ILLEGAL means for themselves, family members, associated companies, etc...and it is USELESS if Asset Declaration are not done regularly(at least annually) after they are elected or appointed as State/Federal Cabinet members.
Pre-GE15 Asset Declaration is FOOLISH and merely a political gimmick...so Muhyiddin is right when he says about pre-GE15 asset declarations, ' Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic)
has dismissed the asset declaration by candidates contesting in the
15th General Election (GE15) as just a “political gimmick” ' BUT he is wrong if he believes that once only Asset Declaration after elected/appointed - it must be done at the very least every year.
Hadi Awang is wrong to think that '“Asset declaration is sometimes a form of stupidity. They want to show off,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.“What should we show the public? We should show that we are good people,” he said after delivering his weekly lecture in Marang, Terengganu.' YES, regular asset declaration after being elected/appointed is needed is TO PROVE THAT THEY REMAIN GOOD PEOPLE...
A law must be enacted requiring asset declaration for all once elected as MP/ADUN, appointed as Senators (or Local Government peoples' representatives) and those appointed as members of State/Federal Cabinet. The declaration is made to the People of Malaysia, not just the Prime Minister or Parliament or some Department > Remember this also will DETER abuse of power, corrupt practices, etc. A failure to make the Declaration must be a CRIME. A FALSE Declaration must be a more serious crime, with higher penalties. All must be disclosed including 'secret' overseas bank accounts and assets.
- Nation
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Sunday, 13 Nov 2022
BATU PAHAT: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) has dismissed the asset declaration by candidates contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15) as just a “political gimmick”
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president said there was a proper way to declare one’s assets.
“I have done so when I was a minister and prime minister or holding public office.
“You have to declare your assets then but when you are a private entity, you do not have to.
“Will the Malaysian Anti Corruption Com-mission [MACC] check it or has [PKR president)]Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared it to the anti-graft body?
“As a minister, it is compulsory but other than that, it is just a political gimmick trying to claim that the candidate is poor and voters should vote for the person,” he said after attending a gathering with Perikatan’s machinery at Dewan Terbuka Taman Sri Penggaram here yesterday.
He said this following the declaration submitted by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli which listed RM18.85mil in assets.
Rafizi had said that the declaration of assets by each PKR candidate in GE15 was to set a higher standard for future elections.
Earlier in his speech, Muhyiddin described his time with Pakatan Harapan as his most jahilliyyah (ignorant) time in politics.
The incumbent Pagoh MP, who is seeking his eighth term in the GE15, said he was the Home Minister during Pakatan’s 22 months in power.
“When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister after 22 months, the country was in trouble and I had to save it.
“We left Pakatan, causing the government to fall. They called me a traitor. Let them be but I did not betray my race, religion or country,” he said.
He stated that despite forming the government, Pakatan could not afford to carry out its manifesto, adding that Dr Mahathir him- self had said that it was not a holy book.
“We also received tremendous pressure from DAP which wanted the government at the time to repel the Sedition Act.
“This Act protects the Malay Rulers, Islam as the country’s official religion as well as Malay rights and [the status of] Bahasa Melayu,” he said.
On Oct 31, Dr Mahathir claimed that Muhyiddin was the real traitor because he had gained the most from the Sheraton Move that toppled he Pakatan government. - Star, 13/11/2022
Hadi slams asset declarations as ‘a form of stupidity’
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PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has slammed PKR’s mandatory asset declaration for its candidates contesting in the general election (GE15).
“Asset declaration is sometimes a form of stupidity. They want to show off,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
“What should we show the public? We should show that we are good people,” he said after delivering his weekly lecture in Marang, Terengganu.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman was asked to comment on whether PAS would follow PKR’s footsteps in having election candidates declare their assets
Hadi’s comments come as PAS vice-president Amar Nik Abdullah yesterday said the party’s leaders were “embarrassed” to make asset declarations as they are not wealthy like “some candidates who are millionaires”.
Anti-graft activists have pushed election candidates to follow the example of their PKR counterparts and declare their assets. Apart from boosting a candidate’s credibility and integrity, they say asset declarations are also crucial for public accountability.
Following in PKR’s footsteps, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa also declared their assets ahead of the Nov 19 polls. The former, who is defending his Muar seat, valued his assets at RM1.9 million, while the latter, who hopes to retain the Parit Buntar seat, valued his assets at RM2.45 million.
While Mujahid said Amanah has no party-wide stance on the public declaration of assets, he said all its GE15 candidates have declared their assets to the party.
DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook yesterday said the party does not have any plans to make it mandatory for its GE15 candidates to declare their assets, although he said those who were elected would be required to do so.
In
PN and Barisan Nasional, candidates such as Azmin Ali and Khairy
Jamaluddin have spoken out against asset declarations for GE15
candidates, with the former calling it “election theathrics” and the
latter describing it as unnecessary. - FMT, 11/11/2022
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