Tired of the constant allegations of corruption levelled at him, former Umno leader Zaid Ibrahim today renewed calls for the government to be more transparent.

He said the Official Secrets Act should be declassified or abolished so that records of government contracts, projects and shares awarded to all ministers, menteris besar, Umno leaders and their family members can be made public.

"This is the only way people will know who is rich and how they got rich. I hope that Umno leaders, especially those who are constantly making wild allegations against me would agree to this," he said.

Zaid, was responding to Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob who alleged that the former law minister was corrupt.

zaid ibrahim book launch nik aziz anwar ibrahim pc 230309 04 Zaid (left) said that this was an obvious attempt to embarrass, upset and undermine him, adding that his lawyers will be contacting Adnan soon.

"These accusations were made because I joined PKR," he said.

He added that Umno leaders often picked on outspoken people like him.

"People who called for reforms to curb corruption, misuse and abuse of power and abolish the ISA are susceptible to being enemies of Umno," he explained.

Zaid (left) recalled suggesting to former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that all ministers declare their assets and income. He also proposed that the declaration form be simplified like the Australian one so that it would not be too complex.

"We all know that it could not be carried out due to protests from left-wing Umno leaders," he said.

He also said that there is no need to accuse and humiliate others. Instead, opportunities should be given to the rakyat to evaluate their leaders.

No need to demean

"As long as Umno leaders are involved in abuses and corruption, and perpetrate discord among the races, they should not demean those trying to forge unity," he said.

Zaid, 58, announced that he was joining PKR on Saturday.

pkr egm bangi zaid ibrahim joins pkr event 130609 15 He won the Kota Bharu parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election on an Umno ticket but was dropped as a candidate in the 2008 election.

He was appointed minister in the prime minister's department by former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year.

He resigned from the cabinet six months later to protest the arrests of three prominent individuals - DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng - under the Internal Security Act.

Subsequently, Zaid was sacked from Umno in December 2008 for attending opposition- organised events.