Instead of being a target of crime, PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said his fortunes turned for the better after he declared his assets last year.

Rafizi said his popularity rose and more people, including BN supporters, are following him on social media since the asset declaration.

Better still, he said, he received donations and has not received many requests for sponsorship because people knew he did not have the funds to do so.

"From time to time, ordinary citizens come to my service centre to donate because they feel sorry for me and my family after knowing my financial standing," he said in a statement today.

As such, Rafizi rubbished Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor's claim that declaring assets would put elected representatives and their families at risk of robbery and kidnapping.

"I have never been threatened by anyone, nor has my family received threats from criminals who know I don't have any money," Rafizi said.

"Actually, Tengku Adnan is afraid of the rakyat and is afraid of detailing where his assets came from, like I did last year."

Rafizi said it was not unusual for elected representatives to have amassed assets before they entered politics.

Declare assets annually after being elected

This is the reason why they should declare their assets once elected, and every year henceforth, so there would not be speculation that they had used their elected position to enrich themselves.

He said asset declarations should also include estimated monthly income and expenses to prove there were no ill-gotten gains.

Tengku Adnan had justified not making public asset declarations after PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil urged him to lead by example following the arrest of a high-ranking Kuala Lumpur City Hall officer for graft.

The minister said he declares his assets annually to the prime minister while the mayor of Kuala Lumpur declares his assets to the chief secretary to the government.

“I already declare it every year. The boy from PKR telling me to declare – I think there is something wrong with his head.

“We ministers and all senior officers have to declare (our assets),” Tengku Adnan said.

At a separate event today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said was asked for her opinion whether government officials should declare their assets or otherwise.

“It’s between the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and maybe the chief secretary (Ali Hamsa) to decide.

“I can't comment on that,” Azalina said when asked at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA).