PARLIAMENT | A remark made by DAP's Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming that the country's corruption perception is getting worse sparked a war of words in Parliament today.

In an additional question to the prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak), Nga said Malaysia's position in the World Competitive Index had worsened due to corruption.

He also cited the Corruption Perceptions Index which saw Malaysia dropping a spot further this year and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki who stated that instances of corruption were more rampant today compared to 10 years ago.

"Is the government willing to lead by example? Is the cabinet willing to declare their assets and ensure that the MACC is a truly independent body, free from the Prime Minister's Department?" Nga (photo) asked.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan in his response to Nga's queries admitted that Malaysia's corruption perception was indeed getting worse.

"This is because the Penang chief minister was charged (for corruption) and this is a perception.

"There is corruption because the Penang chief minister was charged in court. If you want to help the government improve the index, ask the chief minister to resign," said Rahman.

Following this, Nga shot back with: "Then what about MO1"?

The House thereafter erupted in chaos. Othman Abdul (BN-Pendang) was heard shouting bodoh (stupid) at Nga.

"Stupid! MO1 has yet to be charged!" he shouted.

Nga however retorted back by pointing out that billions in assets, purportedly bought using assets from state investment fund 1MDB, have been seized in the United States.

"Is the government sleeping?" he asked.

'I'm answering based on facts'

The Taiping lawmaker also blamed Rahman for causing the chaos, claiming that the minister did not answer his query properly.

Rahman (photo) in his defence said that he was merely answering "based on facts".

"Fact number one is that the party's (DAP) secretary-general was charged with corruption. I'm answering based on facts," he said.

Rahman also said that cabinet members have long declared their assets, by doing so to the prime minister.

"Asset declaration in Selangor (and) Penang) sounds nice but it doesn't have any meaning.

"Leaders in Penang can hide their assets under their wives' or cronies' names," he added.

Rahman also insisted that the MACC was indeed an independent body, citing several cases which saw leaders from the BN government similarly being charged with corruption.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is awaiting trial over a corruption charge involving the purchase of an RM2.8 million bungalow on Pinhorn Road in the state.

Lim, however, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the corruption charge is an attempt by BN to tarnish his reputation as chief minister and end his political career.

Last year, Rahman confirmed that MO1 was Najib but argued that since the prime minister was not mentioned in the US Department of Justice (DOJ) civil suits, the latter was not being investigated.