Dewan Rakyat approves motion on asset declaration
PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat passed a motion to compel lawmakers to declare their assets in a voice vote today, without objection from the opposition.
This is despite opposition lawmakers earlier arguing that Putrajaya had brought up an illegal motion in the House...
PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat passed a motion to compel lawmakers to declare their assets in a voice vote today, without objection from the opposition.
This is despite opposition lawmakers earlier arguing that Putrajaya had brought up an illegal motion in the House.
After close to five hours of debate and a winding-up speech by de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof called for a voice vote.
When he asked whether MPs agreed with the motion, there was a chorus of "Agree" from the government's side.
Ariff then asked if anyone disagreed with the motion. He appeared to be startled when nobody objected, as the opposition side was largely silent.
"There is no voice (in the House) that disagreed (with the motion)," he noted, after which the sitting was adjourned.
The individual votes of MPs were not recorded as there was no request for a bloc vote.
Liew (below) had earlier said the government is in the midst of amending the relevant act on asset declaration.
Earlier today, the opposition argued that the government lacks the force of law to compel the lawmakers to declare their assets.
PAS' Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan and other opposition lawmakers even pledged not to declare their assets even if the motion is passed.
In his reply, Liew said the government's move fulfils the requirement under Clause 27 of Standing Order which allows the motion to be tabled in the House.
This was Pakatan Harapan's effort to fight corruption as pledged in its election promise, he added.
Liew also noted that a total 10 government lawmakers who joined Pakatan Harapan recently and newly elected Sandakan MP Vivian Wong have yet to declare their assets.
The government wanted the MPs to declare their asset every two years, said the Batu Sapi MP.
After the motion was passed today, the lawmakers are now given three months until Oct 1 to declare their assets.
Under the motion, which comes into effect today, lawmakers found providing false declaration will be subject to Section 199 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 193, which provides for a maximum three-year jail sentence and a fine upon conviction.
Lawmakers who fail to declare their assets will be referred to the parliamentary rights and privileges committee.
