MACC given weeks to draft asset declaration form

PUTRAJAYA: The anti-graft agency has been asked to “fast-track” the drawing up of the asset declaration form to enable members of the administration to declare their assets.

Governance, Integrity and AntiCorruption Centre (GIACC) director-general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who disclosed this, said he hoped the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) could do so “within a few weeks”.

He said changes to the code of ethics for members of the administration and lawmakers were also being drafted.

“Once ready, the documents will be presented to the Cabinet for approval and those concerned can start making their asset declaration.

“They are given three months to do so as decided by the special Cabinet committee,” he told reporters after attending the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission’s monthly gathering here.

On the national anti-corruption plan, Abu Kassim said it would contain important and effective measures to fight corruption.

The plan will also contain the 21 pledges in Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto related to governance, integrity, anti-corruption and human rights.

“The UN Convention against Corruption will be our guideline in formulating the plan. We are in the process of collecting data and talking to the agencies that will play a role in helping the administration fight corruption,” he said.

On Monday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, following a special Cabinet committee on anti-corruption meeting, announced new measures aimed at making inroads towards fighting graft.

This included having the Prime Minister and his deputy listed as members of the administration, which means that the top two leaders will also have to declare their assets.

Pakatan MPs will also be subjected to this policy and must submit their list of assets to the MACC.

The Government has also drawn up a guideline on gifts that can be accepted by Dr Mahathir and his Cabinet, with only flowers and food below RM500 in value permitted.

Any gift that is worth more than RM5,000 can only be accepted with written permission from the Prime Minister.

Abu Kassim said getting the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and Pakatan MPs to declare assets to the MACC would send a strong signal that the new administration was committed to fighting corruption and power abuse.

This, along with formulating new policies, laws, giving more bite to the MACC as well as the GIACC was aimed at ensuring efforts to fight the menace remained consistent, he said.

“We want to ensure efforts to fight the menace remain continuous,” he added.

Told that the previous government also required members of the administration to declare their assets, Abu Kassim said: “The difference is before, they need not declare to the MACC, just to the Prime Minister.”