Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today the government is in the process of finding the best way to implement its policy of mandatory asset declaration for all ministers, deputy ministers and their political secretaries.

Speaking during a press conference in Putrajaya after chairing a meeting on ways to combat corruption, Mahathir said the declarations would be made to him as prime minister.

"The thing is in the process of being studied and we are going to find the best way to formulate the rules regarding gifts and other things," Mahathir said when asked for comments on reasons that the declarations are to be made to him instead of to the public.

"On that note, I have also instructed the Prime Minister’s Department to enforce a no-gift policy," he said.

"lf any of you here wanted to give me a gift, you can't do that," he quipped.

Mahathir, however, clarified that the only acceptable gifts would be in the form of flowers, fruits or food items.

"It cannot be anything more than that. We will reject any cars or anything of that sort, all of those are not allowed.

"Not only the receiver is wrong, the one who is giving is also wrong," he stressed.

Former MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, meanwhile, said the asset declaration policy was just one of the measures discussed as part of Putrajaya's crackdown on corruption.

"The asset declarations will be made to the prime minister and the prime minister will forward it to the MACC.

"There will also be other measures taken (to combat corruption)," he said.

Abu Kassim currently sits as a member aboard the 1MDB special investigations team and was recently appointed to head the newly established National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC).

Prior to the 14th general elections, PKR-linked pollster Invoke Malaysia had offered campaign funds to potential candidates contesting against BN and its allies in exchange for a commitment that they must publicly declare their assets annually.

At the time, a total of 103 potential election candidates had pledged to declare their assets, including those who had declared their assets in November last year.