February 04, 2021 (PN)

The MACC Asset Declaration Portal was launched in November 2018 under the Pakatan Harapan administration. 

Then in July 2019, Dewan Rakyat made a unanimous decision to compel all Members of Parliament (MP) to declare their assets, including those of their spouses, children, and trustees through a statutory declaration.

However, asset declaration is not yet legally mandatory in Malaysia. If MPs do not declare their assets, only Parliament can take action against them.

MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil later stated that the enforcement body is seeking a law to make it compulsory for MPs to declare their assets.

Without a compulsory asset declaration law, the MACC only played a “custodian” role in the case of asset declaration forms handed to it and does not perform any verification on the asset declaration documents submitted.

Currently, asset declaration is a precondition for confirmation and promotion of all public officials under Chapter A (Appointment, Promotion and Termination of Service) of the General Order, which includes members of administration, judges, Members of Parliament and public officers.

Those who fail to declare their assets, shall be subjected to disciplinary action under the Public Officers Regulations (Conduct and Discipline) 1993. Possible punishments among others are warning, demotion and dismissal.

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