Kelantan's Kijang state assemblyperson Husam Musa has upped the ante in the current series of challenges and counter-challenges over the public declaration of assets by elected representatives.

Husam said he would suggest that the PAS-led Kelantan government adopts a mechanism, similar to that of the federal Barisan Nasional (BN) government, in making legislators declare their assets.

He was responding to a dare last Saturday by Deputy Tourism Minister Zahid Hamidi that opposition leaders should do the same.

But Husam, who is also a PAS central committee member, had more up his sleeve.

"I would suggest to the federal government that it goes one step further with this public accountability issue and make it really meaningful," he said, when contacted today.

"Let's ensure that the public declaration applies not only exco members and state assemblypersons, but also chairpersons and chief executive officers of state subsidiaries and state-owned companies, and their top managers."

The issue of public declaration of assets has taken centre-stage in the debate between BN and opposition MPs ever since DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang's open challenge to cabinet ministers last week to reveal their personal assets and live up to the new administration's anti-corruption battle-cry.

Failing this, said Lim, they should just resign from their federal posts.

Zahid was the first to respond, by asking that opposition leaders reveal their assets first, instead of calling on cabinet ministers to do so.

On Sunday, Lim accepted Zahid's counter-challenge, with the caveat that BN ministers, their deputies and parliamentary secretaries publicly declare their assets within two weeks of DAP representatives doing so.

The same day, BN leaders agreed to adopt a code of ethics requiring disclosure of their assets every two years, with effect from the end of next month.

However, the declaration of assets will not be made public as the report is to be sent directly to state BN chairpersons with a copy to Abdullah.

During the leadership of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, federal ministers were required to report their personal assets to him, attracting much criticism over the pointlessness of that exercise.

'Nothing unusual'

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) secretary-general Abdul Rahman Othman said Zahid's comments have sidelined the issue of public accountability of office bearers.

"Let's be very clear. The issue of public declaration is required of those holding office because they are entrusted with public assets," he said.

"This means that all those in the federal and state government, including the Kelantan state government, should reveal their individual assets, and those held by their families and nominees."

There is also no point in merely declaring one's assets to the prime minister, said Abdul Rahman, since this would fail the test of public accountability.

"If I'm not mistaken, the previous BN administration already did that. So what's new?" he asked.

Taking the point further, Husam said the federal government should consider tabling all individual declarations in Parliament, to show that its ministers and representatives have nothing to hide.

"It is not sufficient to declare only to the prime minister because we have seen this practice before," he said, adding hat it would only be fair for MPs from the opposition to do the same

"Table the declarations in Parliament so that all MPs can get to know each other better. Perhaps the poor MPs can monitor the assets of the rich MPs," he quipped.

There is no reason for the rich to hide that they have a lot of money. If they accumulated their funds legally, then why not?"

He said there should be an over-arching authority to oversee assets accumulation by ministers, to ensure that the practice of accountability and transparency becomes routine.

The body should comprise opposition and ruling coalition representatives and those of relevant agencies such as the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"Let us not just declare our assets for the sake of doing so, but also strengthen the consequence of that declaration," he added.