KINIBIZ It is regrettable that even a highly educated member of cabinet is apparently dodging a rightful urging for ministers to declare their personal wealth. How else are Malaysians to be convinced beyond doubt that those in power are not abusing the powers vested in them?

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s response to Pandan member of Parliament Rafizi Ramli’s challenge to declare personal wealth does not hold water and sidesteps the issue.

On March 18, Bernama quoted Khairy as saying that all Barisan Nasional ministers have declared their assets to the prime minister and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), hence arguing there is no issue regarding the need to declare their personal wealth to the public.

“Before I took the oath as a minister, I declared my assets, too. Every member of Parliament also must declare his/her assets. So the issue (to declare assets) does not arise. We may not declare it to the public, but we do it,” said Khairy to reporters.

This came in response to a suggestion by Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah urging all past and present cabinet members to declare their personal wealth to avoid conflicts of interests.

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This article was written by Khairie Hisyam.