PSM candidate declares RM992.50 assets, tells others to do so

GE15 | Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) election candidate Bawani KS has declared RM992.50 in net assets and hopes other candidates would do the same.

The 36-year-old is contesting the Ayer Kuning state seat in Perak and reached that figure after deducting RM47,570.90 in debt from her total assets worth RM48,563.40.

Explaining the breakdown, she said she has a Perodua Bezza worth RM29,000 and an Oppo Reno 5 Pro mobile phone worth RM2,100.

There is also RM17,463.40 in her bank.

Bawani (above, second left), who is single and lives with her mother, said she has a car loan of RM27,320.90 and an education loan of RM20,250, totalling RM47,570.90 left to be paid.

She also revealed that her monthly salary as a lawyer is RM5,000 and her total EPF savings up until Nov 1, 2022, was RM12,189.41.

The PSM deputy secretary-general said this practice of assets declaration is in accordance with party tradition since the 1999 general election.

“This is very important for the rest of the candidates, former MPs, and future reps to declare their assets and for the public to know how much assets they have.

“By declaring our assets, the transparency of the candidates can be portrayed. Then, we can create clean candidates and representatives,” she said.

She was speaking to Malaysiakini after an asset declaration ceremony at Pusat Perniagaan Air Kuning, Chenderiang in Perak today.

Also present were PSM chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, PSM central committee member Chong Yee Shan, and former deputy chairperson M Sarasvathy.

Check and balance

Michael said the declaration of assets is not only for party leaders but is something that will be displayed on PSM’s website for the public to check.

“The voters can check whether Bawani has become richer after a year of being elected as an assemblyperson.

“If her wealth increases, the people can ask her how she got richer and where did the money come from,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of declaring assets as it provides a check and balance on politicians to ensure they stay away from corruption.

“This is the new political culture brought by PSM.”

The five-cornered fight in Ayer Kuning this election involves Bawani, BN’s Ishsam Shahruddin, Pakatan Harapan’s Mohd Nazri Hashim, Perikatan Nasional’s Ustaz Farid, and GTA’s Maziah Salim.

For the record, Ayer Kuning has been an Umno stronghold since 1986 and held by Samsudin Abu Hassan since 2004.

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