DAP's Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng has urged Putrajaya to ban the media from publishing the annual top 20 richest Malaysians list in the interest of their safety.

Lim said this is based on the logic of Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who refused to publicly declare his assets, citing that his family may be kidnapped or robbed.

"If his view is true, then the government should prevent the media from reporting on the top 20 richest Malaysians list, as such publicity would put the safety of their family and assets at risk," Lim said in a statement today.

He added that such a notion puts the police in bad light, as well as the country in the eyes of wealthy tourists.

Lim questioned if the Umno minister was worried about publicly declaring his assets as his wealth may put Malaysian tycoons to shame.

Tengku Adnan had said he was a businessman before joining politics and has a lot of assets.

He said, revealing them could expose his wife and children to being kidnapped or robbed.

However, Lee proposed a compromise, asking that Tengku Adnan only declare his assets, beginning from when he became minister.

"If the minister's claim is that he acquired many assets from his previous business before joining politics is not a lie, then there is no reason for Tengku Adnan not to declare his annual income to the public from when became an Umno minister," said Lim.

The top three richest Malaysians this year according to Forbes were Robert Kuok (US$10 billion net worth), Ananda Krishnan (US$7.4 billion) and Quek Leng Chan (US$5.3 billion).

Stronger check and balance for the non-elected

Tengku Adnan made the justification after PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil urged him to publicly declare his assets in light of a senior Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officer being charged for corruption.

Fahmi, in a statement later today, said Tengku Adnan's explanation was unsatisfactory from the point of view of democracy and good governance.

He pointed out that Tengku Adnan only declaring his assets to the prime minister while the KL mayor only declaring his assets to the chief secretary to the government did not suffice.

"This system was clearly inadequate and needs to be revamped as it failed to prevent a 'datuk seri" in DBKL, who was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last week, from amassing assets (from his job)," said Fahmi.

He added that the check and balances in DBKL should have a higher threshold because the people of KL do not have a choice as the mayor as well as DBKL board members are not elected.

Fahmi said this high threshold should likewise apply to the federal territories minister.

"The federal territories minister and KL mayor do not need to fear declaring their assets to the public as I believe the police is always ready to ensure their safety as well as the safety of all Malaysians from criminals and robbers.