After new ruling, Dr M gets loads of food including 'one-tonne dodol'

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says that his home is filling up with food and flowers, following a ruling on ministers not being able to accept gifts worth more than RM500 aside from said items.

"I no longer get many gifts," he told reporters after chairing the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption in Putrajaya today.

"When I was the prime minister the first time, I was gifted 26 cars which I returned, and some I put at the Langkawi museum. 

"What we can accept are food and flowers. Now there are a lot of food and flowers at my house.

"There are even people who delivered one tonne of dodol and fruits, and I had to give them away," he quipped when asked why there was no limit on food.

The gift policy was introduced in June last year, and applies to members of the administration, ranging from ministers to political secretaries.

On a related matter, Mahathir said the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) is recommending that the scope of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) be made part of ministers' key performance index (KPI), which includes asset declarations.

"All ministers, deputy ministers (must declare their assets), and we will also extend it to MPs, even in the opposition," he said.

Mahathir said the opposition should also declare their assets as "payment" for transparency.

He added that the government was also considering extending the asset declaration to family members of ministers, deputy ministers and MPs.

However, he said this would require constitutional amendments and will be brought to the attention of the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

Asset declaration part of ministers' KPI - Mahathir

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