‘NO NEED TO DECLARE MY ASSETS’
BN’s Tok Mat says he has to sell house, land and a car as he no longer has an income
UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has no qualms about declaring his assets for the Rantau by-election, but feels that there is no need to do so as his “assets are shrinking by the day”.
Mohamad said declaration of one’s assets was nothing new.
“I declared my assets with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) when I was the menteri besar. It was part of the Barisan Nasional-led state government’s
policy.
“I did it every term without fail. A copy of my assets’ declaration can be obtained from MACC and state secretary’s office.”
He said while he had no problems declaring his assets, he, however, felt that the matter was not necessary, especially for someone who no longer held any position in the government.
“My assets are shrinking by the day, not increasing.
“I had to sell my house, land and a car to reduce my commitments as I no longer have an income other than my pension and allowance as an assemblyman,” he said here yesterday.
Mohamad, 62, was responding to calls from PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who had criticised him for not declaring his assets.
In a Pakatan Harapan ceramah in Bandar Ekar on Monday night, Saifuddin had raised the issue of Mohamad’s assets, comparing him with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, whom he claimed had declared his assets.
Mohamad said he had invited former Umno president and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak to visit the Sendayan township as part of the campaign for the byelection.
This despite perceptions that the party was trying to detach itself from Najib, who is linked to various corruption scandals, including 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
“The people here are more concerned about issues related to the rising cost of living, the increasing prices of goods, the reduction in the 1Malaysia People’s Aid payouts and the drop in oil palm and rubber prices.”