July 14, 2021 (PN)
The immediate family members of politicians and government officials including their spouses and adult children should be compelled to declare their assets and income annually, the Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4) proposed this in support of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) call to establish an asset declaration law.
C4 commended the proposed Act, stating that it will empower the country’s anti-corruption enforcement efforts with the strength provided by legislative backing so that the MACC may properly act against those who have yet to declare their assets or made false declarations.
MACC deputy chief commissioner Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil said, presently, no persons could be penalised under the law for not declaring their assets although a motion for MPs to declare their assets to the Speaker has been tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, with a copy of the asset declaration extended to MACC. However, the MACC may not be able to verify these documents received (via investigations).
The findings presented in C4 Center’s Foundations and Donations Political Financing report show that family members or spouses of politicians are given key roles in foundations that had been involved in allegations of corruption.
The extension of the proposed Asset Declaration Act to include family members of public officials would spearhead the creation of a robust and comprehensive public asset declaration law.
C4 Center’s legal framework document for the establishment of a public asset declaration act is available for download at: http://www.c4center.org/pledge-public-asset-declaration-framework.
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