Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman challenged the government’s proposal for mandatory asset declarations from all federal lawmakers. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — A Barisan Nasional (BN) MP challenged today the government’s proposal for mandatory asset declarations from all federal lawmakers, demanding to know why Malaysians deserved such information.

During the debate on the motion to compel MPs to declare their assets, Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman stood to object and said lawmakers have a fundamental right to privacy.

Tajuddin argued that Opposition lawmakers were not government officials with the power to award contracts, effectively precluding opportunities for them to be corrupt.

He further contended that their income details could be provided to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and were already furnished to the Inland Revenue Board, which he said were reasonable.

“But why the need to publicise about it in portals? What is the right of the public to know about my assets, and your assets?

“To know this [MP] profited RM100 million, RM200 million or RM1 billion, and then have to publicise it in the portal so people will know?

“What is the need? And after all, this is the basic right of a person (MP),” he added.

The motion today proposes to refer lawmakers who do not comply to the Parliament’s Select Committee on Rights and Privileges.

MPs who make false declarations could also be charged under Section 3, Act 783 (Statutory Declaration) and Section 193 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine upon conviction.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said last week that once the motion is approved, MPs and senators along with their spouses and children under the age of 21 must declare their assets.

The motion proposes to compel lawmakers to declare their assets through a statutory declaration (SD) to be submitted within three months from the date the Speaker approves the motion.

A copy of the declaration will also be extended to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief, which will then display this on the commission’s website.

Lawmakers with the ruling party already declare their assets for public display on the MACC website but they do not yet face a deadline and the declarations are not strictly enforced.