PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man is pictured at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur July 1, 2019. ― Picture by Firdaus Latif

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — Islam does not allow the declaration of wealth as this would raise security concerns, says PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

The Kubang Kerian MP cited an Islamic scripture in objection against the special motion to compel all lawmakers to declare their assets, stating that the safety of the individuals who had declared their assets have to be taken into account, as the proposed motion involves family members as well.

“In Islam, there is a hadith that says if God has given you wealth, do not declare it to the public as there are many observers,” he told reporters at the Parliament, referring to the records of Prophet Muhammad.

“Our country also has enough laws to monitor the assets [of the MPs], such as reporting our income annually to the Inland Revenue Board.”

He however did not specify which hadith he was referring to.

Tuan Ibrahim added that the Islamist party conditionally opposed the motion unless it came in the form of legislation.

“If it is just a motion then there’s no point. We have to be smart when we table something in Parliament; we cannot be hasty about it.

“One must first study the implications and not be desperate about it, and later on retract it. This will show that we were not thorough on any issue. We need to be careful before we table something in Parliament,” he said.

Tuan Ibrahim further argued Opposition lawmakers also did not have the power to award contracts like their counterparts in the ruling coalition, which he said negated the need for them to declare their assets.

When asked about those from the Barisan Nasional (BN) era, he insisted that the coalition’s lawmakers had declared their assets to the authorities then.

“They had declared their assets before, the information was there.

“When you are part of the government you would have to declare and the information was available with the federal administration,” he said.

The special motion to compel all lawmakers to declare their assets was tabled in Dewan Rakyat today at noon.

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

MPs who make false declarations, however, could be charged under Section 3, Act 783 (Statutory Declaration) and Section 193 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term no more than three years or a fine.