Declaring assets a means to uphold integrity

KUCHING: The Sarawak government should follow in the footstep of the federal government in asking its cabinet ministers, assistant ministers, politicial secretaries and government officials to declare their assets to the chief minister as a means to uphold integrity.

Michael Tiang a political secretary to the chief minister said it's time for the Sarawak government to take a step further following the integrity pledges signed before.

"Members of Sarawak Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club and political secretaries were the first in Malaysia to sign the integrity pledge before former chief minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem and former Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed in 2015.

"I fully support our government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to take a step further in asking its officials to declare their assets to the chief minister," he said when prompted for comments on the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's announcement on Friday, that cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, political secretaries and government officials must declare their assets to the prime minister.

Tiang, who is Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) Youth chief, believed that such a policy would help enhance public perception as well as the trust and confidence of the people in the Sarawak government.

"Although the prime minister was only asking federal ministers and officials to declare their assets to ensure their integrity while holding public offices, the same practice should be adopted by the Sarawak government," he added.

Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman lauded the new government for coming up with the initiative...declaring assets by administrators, which was practised by the previous government.

"It is good to adopt good initiatives which have been practised before," he said.

He said when Abang Johari succeeded Adenan, his cabinet signed an integrity pledge with the MACC, which went to show that the Sarawak government is committed to upholding integrity.

Fazzrudin said it is also wise to limit the number of positions a leader could hold as holding too many positions could lead to malpractice, abuse of power and even conflicts of interest.

"It (holding too mang posts) will also hamper productivity or hinder producing good ideas for the benefit of an organisation."

He said upholding integrity by declaring their assets officials had could help instil confidence of the people in civil servants and the government of the day.

For Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, making it mandatory for federal ministers, deputy ministers and government officials to declare their assets 'is a good move by the PH federal government'.

"The integrity authority is privy to the information and MACC is given full power to take necessary action against those who are in suspicion," he said.

Wong said the limit of a leader holding a maximum of five positions would help prevent them from growing very powerful, which is essential in practising clean governance.

In Sarawak, he said even though ministers, assistant ministers and government officials had signed the integrity pledge, they were not asked to declare their assets.

He thus challenged the Sarawak governemnt to follow suit.

Wong recalled having raised during one of the past State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sittings, that the 'State Secretary of Sarawak is over-powerful by holding tens of positions in government-linked corporations and statutory bodies".

"The government should reduce and limit the power and positions held by the State Secretary."

He said the State Secretary, with various positions he is presently holding, 'is even more powerful than a minister who has the mandate of the people'.

"This is outrageously senseless as it destroys the democracy of the nation," added Wong.

Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil asserted that self discipline and personal conscience must be upheld and practised in one's undertakings.

"This (declaring of assets) has been done before. To me, self discipline and personal conscience are important in whatever we do."

He added that state cabinet members had signed the integrity pledge twice - once during Adenan's time and the other time early last year when Abang Johari assumed office.

Lo Khere Chiang the Padawan Municipal Council chairman and Batu Kitang assemblyman said it's right to expect officials to declare their assets.

He said all councillors and staff including himself at the council had pledged to uphold integrity.