Asset Declaration Muhammad Aneeq Aiyman Bin Roslan & Tan Lian May
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2018 Intern paper: Asset Declaration Muhammad Aneeq Aiyman Bin Roslan & Tan Lian May THIS DOCUMENT IS PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF YB WONG CHEN, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SUBANG ANEEQ ROSLAN PUSAT KHIDMAT P104 SUBANG | 113B, Jalan SS14/1, 47500 SubanG Jaya 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 This paper is an attempt to assess the current situation of asset declaration in Malaysia and push for further efforts of implementing it on a larger scale. 1.2 Governments today are becoming more vulnerable to corruption and financial scandals which have been impetus to the downfall of several nations we know today. 1.3 The reason why corruption is so repulsive is the fact that it impedes national growth, creates avenues for higher income inequality, and gives rise to inefficiency. 1.4 In 2014, political parties were ranked the most corrupt among six key institutions in Malaysia, ahead of the police and civil servants1. This explains why asset declaration is critical for those elected into power. 1.5 While eradicating corruption entirely is idealistic, the path towards achieving anything close to such ideals begins with transparency in all aspects. It is; therefore, imperative for the new government to gazette laws to make public asset declaration a mandatory practice for all Ministers, State Executive Committees, high ranking public servants, and in the long run, all Member of Parliaments and State Assemblymen. 1.6 It must be stressed that assets declarations should not only be declared to anti- corruption agencies or the Prime Minister, but also disclosed to the public for citizens and external auditors. This is to allow for full transparency and the scrutinization of dubious financial activities. 1.7 Public asset declaration is a widely practiced system amongst many developed and developing nations such as New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Norway, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Philippines, Iceland, Indonesia, and Japan. It is no surprise that New Zealand, Denmark, Finland and Norway rank top three in terms of the Corruption Perception Index. 1.8 The importance of asset declarations are as follows. ● Prevents conflict of interest amongst public officials; ● Allows public scrutinisation through auditing methods; ● Reduces the ability for leaders to abuse power; ● Builds trust amongst citizens and governments; 1 Transparency International Malaysia, ‘Malaysian Corruption Barometer 2014’ (Malaysia, 24 May 2014) <http://transparency.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MCB-2014-results-report.pdf> accessed 20 July 2018 2 ● Prevents illicit enrichment; ● Prevents false accusations of wealth; ● Holds politicians and public servants accountable to the public. 1.9 In Malaysia, the Pakatan Harapan coalition have, in the past, shown their commitment towards trying to encourage public asset declaration. This was seen clearly through the asset declaration initiatives carried out by the Pakatan Harapan administered states of Penang and Selangor before the 14th General Election. Non-profit organization, INVOKE, also started a mass initiative for all members of the coalition to voluntarily declare their assets publicly through a standardized model. 3 2.0 Tabulation of Findings 2.1 Asset Declaration by Ministers in the 20th Cabinet of Malaysia Publicly Net Asset Amount Name Position Declared Notes Declared (RM) Assets YAB Tun Dr. Prime Minister I. 9th term N/A Mahathir Mohamad Member of Parliament; II. Previously served as Prime Minister for 22 years. Deputy YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Prime Minister; I. 5th term N/A Wan Azizah Minister of Women Member of Parliament. Wan Ismail and Family Development YB Lim Guan Eng Minister of Finance I. 6th term As of 30th January Member of Parliament; 2018 II. Previously served as Chief Minister of 2,340,268.802 Penang; III. Declared assets to the (Excluding shares in Penang Public Mutual Fund State Government. and Tru Tech Berhad) YB Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Minister of I. 6th term N/A Muhyiddin Yassin Home Affairs Member of Parliament; II. Previously served as Deputy Prime Minister. YB Dato’ Seri Minister of I. 3rd term N/A Mohamed Economic Affairs Member of Parliament; Azmin Ali II. Previously served as Chief Minister of Selangor. 2 Penang State Government, ‘Declaration of Assets By: Lim Guan Eng’ (Penang, 31 January 2018). <https://www.penang.gov.my/images/stories/pengumuman/Pengisytiharan%20Harta%20EXCO%202018.pdf> accessed 23 July 2018. 4 Publicly Name Position Declared Notes Net Asset Amount Assets Declared (RM) YB Anthony Loke Minister of Transport I. 3rd term N/A Member of Parliament. YB Baru Bian Minister of Works I. 1st term N/A Member of Parliament. YB Darrell Leiking Minister of I. 2nd term N/A International Trade Member of Parliament. and Industry YB Dato’ Dr. Minister in the I. 3rd term As of 30th September Mujahid Yusof Prime Minister’s Member of Parliament; 2017 Department II. Declared assets (Religious Affairs) through INVOKE. 1,074,390.003 YB Dato’ Minister of I. 2nd term N/A Saifuddin Abdullah Foreign Affairs Member of Parliament; II. Previously served as Deputy Minister of Education. YB Dato’ Minister of I. 2nd term As of 30th September Saifuddin Nasution Domestic Trade and Member of Parliament; 2017 Ismail Consumer Affairs II. Declared assets through INVOKE. 1,660,000.004 YB Datuk Haji Minister of Agriculture I. 3rd term As of 30th September Salahuddin Ayub and Member of Parliament; 2017 Agro-based Industry II. Declared assets through INVOKE 740,570.005 3 INVOKE Malaysia, ‘Pengisytiharan Harta: Mujahid bin Yusof’ (Kuala Lumpur, 30 September 2017) <https://invokemalaysia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MUJAHID-YUSUF-ad.pdf> accessed 19 July 2018. 4 INVOKE Malaysia, ‘Pengisytiharan Harta: Saifudddin Nasution’ (Kuala Lumpur, 30 September 2017). <https://invokemalaysia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SAIFUDDIN-NASUTION-ad.pdf> accessed 19 July 2018 5 INVOKE Malaysia, ‘Pengisytiharan Harta:Salahuddin Ayub’ (Kuala Lumpur,30 September 2017 ). <https://invokemalaysia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SALAHUDDIN-AYUB-ad.pdf> accessed 19 July 2018 5 Publicly Name Position Declared Notes Net Asset Amount Assets Declared (RM) YB Datuk Minister in the I. 2nd term N/A Liew Vui Keong Prime Minister’s Member of Parliament. Department (Law) YB Datuk Minister of Tourism, I. 1st term N/A Mohammadin Arts and Culture Member of Parliament. Ketapi YB Dr. Haji Minister of Health I. 2nd term As of 30th September Dzulkefly Ahmad Member of Parliament; 2017 II. Declared assets through INVOKE. 1,984,050.006 YB Dr. Maszlee Minister of Education I. 1st term N/A Malik Member of Parliament. YB Mohamad Sabu Minister of Defence I. 4th term As of 31st January Member of Parliament; 2018 Declared assets through INVOKE 688,000.007 YB Dr. Xavier Minister of I. 1st term Data no longer Jeyakumar Water, Land and Member of Parliament; available Natural Resources II. Previously served as Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) and Member of the Selangor State Executive Council; III. Declared assets to the Selangor State Government in 2009. 6 INVOKE Malaysia, ‘Pengisytiharan Harta: Dzulkefly Ahmad’ (Kuala Lumpur, 30 September 2017). <https://invokemalaysia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DZULKEFLY-AHMAD-ad.pdf> accessed 19 July 2018. 7 INVOKE Malaysia, ‘Pengisytiharan Harta: Mohamad Sabu’ (Kuala Lumpur, 31 January 2018). <https://invokemalaysia.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/03/MAT-SABU-1.pdf> accessed 20 July 2018. 6 Publicly Name Position Declared Notes Net Asset Amount Assets Declared (RM) YB Gobind Singh Minister of I. 3rd term N/A Deo Communications and Member of Parliament. Multimedia YB Khalid Minister of I. 3rd term As of 30th September Abdul Samad Federal Territories Member of Parliament; 2017 II. Declared assets through INVOKE. 1,370,500.008 YB M. Kulasegaran Minister of I. 4th term N/A Human Resources Member of Parliament. YB Mohd. Redzuan Minister of I. 1st term N/A Md. Yusof Entrepreneur Member of Parliament. Development YB Rina Harun Minister of I. 1st term N/A Rural Development Member of Parliament. YB Syed Saddiq Minister of I. 1st term N/A Syed Abdul Rahman Youth and Sports Member of Parliament. YB Teresa Kok Minister of I. 5th term Data Primary Industries Member of Parliament; no longer available II. Previously served as Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) and Member of the Selangor State Executive Council; III. Declared assets to the Selangor State Government in 2009. 8 INVOKE Malaysia, ‘Pengisytiharan Harta: Khalid Samad’ (Kuala Lumpur, 30 September 2017). <https://invokemalaysia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/KHALID-ABD-SAMAD-aD.pdf> accessed 19 July 2018. 7 Publicly Net Asset Amount Name Position Declared Notes Declared (RM) Assets YB Waytha Moorthy Minister in the I. Senator. N/A Ponnusamy Prime Minister’s II. Former Deputy Department Minister in Prime (National Unity and Minister’s Office. Social Wellbeing) YB Yeo Bee Yin Minister of I. 1st term N/A Energy, Technology, Member of Parliament. Science, Climate Change and Environment YB Datuk Zuraida Minister of I. 3rd term N/A Kamaruddin Housing and Member of Parliament. Local Government 8 2.2 Public Asset Declaration by Deputy Ministers in the 20th Cabinet of Malaysia Name Position Publicly Notes Net Asset Amount Declared Declared (RM) Assets YB Amiruddin Deputy Minister of I. 1st term N/A Hamzah Finance Member of Parliament. YB Chong Deputy Minister of I. 4th term N/A Chieng Jen Domestic Trade and Member of Parliament. Consumer Affairs YB Dato’ Haji Deputy Minister of I. 5th term N/A Kamarudin Jaffar Transport Member of Parliament. YB Dato’ Haji Deputy Minister of I. 4th term As of 30th September Mahfuz Omar Human Resources Member of Parliament; 2017 II. Declared assets through INVOKE. 322,000.009 YB Senator Dato’ Deputy Minister of I. Senator. N/A Raja Kamarul Housing and Bahrin Local Government YB Dr. Deputy Minister of I. 3rd term N/A Lee Boon Chye Health Member of Parliament.