Wrong declaration makes Baru a top earner

KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Works Baru Bian who declared his monthly income of RM108,056 has been listed as the top income earner among Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders in the income list released by Malaysia AntiCorruption Commission uploaded to the Property Declaration Portal.

However, Baru said that he had made a mistake and over declared his income when The Borneo Post contacted him over his position in the list.

Earlier, he had clarified to Malaysiakini that he estimated his monthly income to be RM78,000.

However, to correct his declaration Baru said he has to go through some legal process to re-submit his monthly income.

With his clarification, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng who declared his monthly income of RM86,464.92 now tops the list.

Baru when told of Lim's income said in jest, “Certainly I cannot be richer than Lim Guan Eng.”

The finance minister had declared his income together with his wife and children, but the figure listed is that of his alone.

Lim earns more than Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whose declared income is RM75,861.57 making him the third highest earner. Dr Mahathir declared his income together with that of his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali although it is likely that the income listed is his own.

The second highest earner is Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who declared his income is RM77,629.68.

In the list, the prime minister is followed by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in fourth place (RM73,576.15).

Also high on the list are Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin (RM72,276.37), Minister Primary Industries Teresa Kok (RM68,142.66) and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Ismail with RM59,048.33.

The positions in the list are not based on the income as Dr Mahathir is placed at the top while Lim is placed at fifth.

An MP takes home a monthly income of RM25,700, including allowances, transport and telephone costs as well as for attending meetings.

The website stated that only 19 Cabinet members (38.8 per cent) and 46 (37.4 per cent) of the government backbenchers have declared their income while 31 cabinet members (61.2 per cent) and 77 PH backbenchers (62.6 per cent) have not declared their income to MACC.

MACC explained the posting of the list with the statement: “The Property Declaration Portal developed by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) is set up to enable the declaration of property by the Administration Member & Member of Parliament to be displayed to the public on the basis of government's decision to prove the transparency of government leadership.”

Meanwhile, MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil when contacted said the website is available starting yesterday and called for the public to be patient as they are currently trying to solve some technical problems.

“(The website is ready) today, the technical problem will be solved soon and please be patient on that,” he told Borneo Post Online when interviewed via WhatsApp messenger.

Shamshun said that the amount displayed is monthly income of individual PH leaders.

Shamsun stressed that the website was PH leaders' effort to show transparency and ensure that all PH leaders were free of corruption.

“The instruction to have the portal is a government decision so MACC will execute whatever decision been made by the government,” he explained.

When asked whether the name of opposition leaders who have declared their income will be displayed there too, Shamsun said they have not received any directive on that yet.

“No instruction given yet on this matter. MACC prepared the platform it is up to the relevant authorities to decide.”

This is the first time that the income declaration of Malaysia ruling coalition is being published on MACC's portal for public viewing, he added.

Dr Mahathir was reported to have said that all members of the administration, including ministers, their deputies and political secretaries, were required to declare their assets to the Prime Minister.

The MACC has uploaded income declaration of Pakatan Harapan (PH) cabinet and parliamentary members at a specific page www. mydeclaration. sprm.gov.my/ on its portal with immediate effect.