MACC won't verify asset declarations unless complaint lodged
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will not verify the asset declarations made by members of the Executive and Parliament.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the anti-graft body is not required to do so by law.
“For the time being, there is no provision in the law regarding this (verification of declarations),” he told Malaysiakini...
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission does not have the power to verify the asset declarations made by members of the Executive and Parliament.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the anti-graft body is not empowered to do so by law.
“For the time being, there is no provision in the law regarding this (verification of declarations),” he told Malaysiakini.
"However, if we find out later through a complaint or someone lodges a report saying the information declared is false, we can investigate.
"We assume that what is declared is true. Whether it is logical (munasabah) or not, we will accept it... unless there is a complaint or report lodged," Shamsun said.
This comes after de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said it is up to the MACC to investigate if Tourism Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi had made a false declaration when he said he only owns RM9,388 worth of assets.
Commenting on Mohamaddin’s case, Shamsun said the MACC is only a “custodian” of the asset declarations.
“You will have to ask the minister himself (if he under-declared) because we do not verify the information received.
“The MACC is only a custodian of the asset declarations given to us,” he said.
Mohamaddin (above) said last week that the RM9,338 refers to a motorcycle he owns, while he does not have other properties.
He also said that he does not want to buy property as he is saving his salary for retirement.
According to the MACC asset declaration portal, Mohamaddin's monthly salary is RM54,979.53.
He also said that he does not own property because his family home belongs to his wife.
Interestingly, this was not declared, even though the portal notes that his declaration includes his wife’s assets.
Shamsun earlier also confirmed with Malaysiakini that assets declared must also include cash savings.
'A half measure'
The asset declaration exercise - the first time in Malaysian history - has been lauded as part of Pakatan Harapan’s reform agenda but critics like anti-corruption watchdog C4 believe it is a half measure.
The website only shows the monthly incomes, total value of assets, when it was declared and whether the declaration includes assets of family members.
However, it does not provide a breakdown of assets nor does it allow users to make historical comparisons to see if there has been a spike in assets.
The page now only shows assets of ministers, deputy ministers, political secretaries and Pakatan Harapan MPs.
In July, the Dewan Rakyat passed a motion to compel all MPs to declare their assets to the speaker, who will then share the information with the MACC.
BN MPs have refused to declare their assets, citing privacy and security concerns, while arguing that this is out of the jurisdiction of Parliament.
PAS MPs, too, refused to do so, saying that they have already declared their assets to the party, while Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has let its MPs decide whether or not to declare their assets.
The deadline for the MPs to do so is Dec 5, which was extended from Oct 1. The MPs can be hauled to face the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee if they fail to comply, and can be suspended or fined.
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