Opposition lawmakers will not declare assets, says Ismail

OPPOSITION lawmakers have no intention to declare their assets, says Opposition leader Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic).

“We will not declare our assets because there are no written laws, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 that can compel us to do so, ” he said on the sidelines of the Umno General Assembly.

“We will agree (to do so) if MACC amends the Act.

“I think the motion brought up in Parliament was inaccurate as it can only be used by the Speaker to handle Standing Orders and instructions within Dewan Rakyat.

“Now, they want the spouses and children (of MPs) to be bound by the motion. This is not right, ” he said, calling it an attempt by the Executive to interfere with the Legislative.

“What’s happening now is that Parliament has to follow the instructions of the Executive to make a motion to compel the MPs, including those from the Opposition, to declare their assets, ” said Ismail.

He said while he agreed with the concept to prevent the abuse of power the Opposition were not in the power to approve anything.

“When we were the ministers, we did declare our assets, ” he said.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang questioned whether its lawmakers were only obligated to declare their assets because this was part of Pakatan Harapan’s election promises as well as its legality under the Federal Constitution.

“What is important is our sincerity. If we are not sincere, there is no meaning to this, ” said Abdul Hadi, who is the Marang MP.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong reportedly said that the Speaker could take action against those MPs who failed to declare their assets after the Dec 5 deadline.