It is inappropriate for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief to keep records of properties of ministers and deputy ministers, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department VK Liew.

He reasoned that this was because the MACC's main role was to receive and investigate complaints on corruption in the country.

NONE "The role is not for the MACC chief to keep the records of assets of ministers and deputy ministers.

"As far as I am concerned, we have (already) been told from the beginning (at the time of appointment as ministers and deputy ministers) to submit records of our assets (which we have done)," he told reporters at a news conference in Kota Kinabalu today.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president was asked to comment on a recent statement by MACC advisory panel chairperson Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh over the commission's proposal to the government to obtain a copy of the declaration of assets of Cabinet members and their spouses and other family members.

“We propose that a copy of the declaration of assets of all members of the federal administration be given to the commission.

"We (further) propose that their spouses and other family members be required to disclose their assets through a statutory declaration and a record of it be kept by the MACC,” she was quoted as saying.

On Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's call on ministers in the federal government to declare their assets, Liew said it was ironical the Pakatan Rakyat state governments of Selangor and Kedah failed to heed the call.

On the Umno supreme council decision to activate its disciplinary committee to monitor the activities of its members to ensure they toed the line until the general election, he said LDP welcomed the decision.

Last Friday, Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said it was better to start monitoring the election machinery early and take action to deal with any disciplinary matter now, rather than after the general election.

- Bernama