MACC: Thirteen MPs, 24 senior govt officials have not declared assets

PUTRAJAYA: Thirteen MPs and 24 senior government officials including political secretaries have yet to declare their assets, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).  

Its Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said that elected MPs have a moral obligation to declare their assets as they themselves promised to do so.  
 
He said the agency is willing to help them and have also been actively calling their aides to get leaders to declare their assets.  

"It was their promise to the people so whatever promises they make, they need to fulfil it," he said.  
 
He said so far, 115 MPs and 63 government officials have declared their assets.  

Shamsun Baharin said there are no existing laws that make it compulsory for MPs to declare their assets, adding that it is done in accordance with the Civil Service Code of Ethics and Member of Parliament Code of Ethics.  

He said the agency plans to propose a law or amend the existing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 to make asset declaration mandatory for all politicians.  

The law is expected to be tabled in April.  

"As a member of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Treaty, we should have a law," he said after the International Anti-Corruption Day flag-off ceremony at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Sunday (Dec 9).