Asset declaration only the first step
Issues regarding income figures of ministers and other MPs must be resolved. But institutional reforms should be the key solution to Malaysia’s corruption problem.
FARCE. Fiasco. Foolhardy. I could go on with more “f-words”, but you get the picture.
The recent show of putting up the incomes of ministers as part of the asset declaration exercise, was ridiculous to say the least because obviously the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) wasn’t ready.
There were more questions than answers when the MACC published monthly incomes of ministers and MPs who have declared their assets on its website.
But there’s a caveat when you get to the website.
“Maklumat terperinci berkaitan dengan pemilikan harta akan dipaparkan apabila masalah teknikal diselesaikan”. Which, essentially means that the information contained isn’t accurate.
And this begs the question: Why put up important information if it cannot be verified? There is transparency, yes, but the picture is incomplete.
On Tuesday, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said corruption in Malaysia is worsening and is an embarrass- ment to the country. There is no point in toning things down when facts and figures clearly show that corruption is on the rise in the country, he said.
“I am not the type to pretend. I will be very frank. Corruption in Malaysia is at a worrying level,” Shukri revealed, adding that Malaysia’s “reputation” on corruption was known throughout the world, so much so that he felt embarrassed to say he was from the country.
That’s why the asset declaration is a good first step but this must be done consistently and diligently.
However, the commission said the brickbats over the haphazard manner in which the information was published online were uncalled for because it was merely following the government’s directive.
Officials say it was the MACC’s job to provide a platform for elected politicians to declare their assets and for the commission to release data on the portal, as required by the government.
Initial perusal of the website showed that Works Minister Baru Bian was the highest earner with a monthly income of RM108,056 but the figure has since been revised to RM83,736.
Another anomaly is the fact that while MPs and ministers declare their incomes and that of their spouses, the commission has clarified that the numbers published are incomes of the politicians only.
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said what was published on the portal is “a far cry from an asset declaration”.
She said such a declaration requires disclosure of shares, property, bonds and bank accounts with elaborate details.
“As the public disclosure exercise is a huge step and a first for the country, we do expect some hitches but the half-released information seems like a pitiful attempt,” she told The Star.
Gabriel added that it was also disappointing that not all the MPs have declared their assets.
The asset declaration received a mixed reaction from social media users. While many lauded the move, others questioned the osten- tatious show of wealth by children of current and former ministers.
Some of these privileged kids have become Instagram stars, parading their flashy cars, expensive outfits and fancy lifestyles. One wonders if the MACC is going to investigate them too?
Personally, I have no issues with the comfortable salaries MPs and ministers earn. They are burdened with running the affairs of the country and remuneration should commensurate with their responsibilities.
In fact, their salaries pale in comparison with what their counterparts earn in Singapore. As an example, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong earns S$2.4mil (RM7mil) a year whereas Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s annual take-home would be in the region of RM910,000 – a huge disparity!
A source told me that when a minister is sworn in, they are given a booklet which details how much they would earn plus perks and benefits.
“The MACC has compiled files on all current ministers but providing details of wealth beyond salaries is not practical because of security concerns,” the source said.
It would be naive to think that corruption does not exist in the strongest democracies of the world. It does, but in these countries, there are mechanisms and a robust ecosystem to curtail, and more importantly, to penalise wrongdoers.
And that is why the asset declaration should be the first step in tackling this problem that is plaguing our nation. The next step is the big one – institutional reforms, which includes placing the MACC under Parliament rather than the Prime Minister’s Office.
This will ensure a truly independent commission, and when this happens, governance and transparency will truly be the order of the day.
The writer believes that if ever there was an ideal moment to combat corruption, the moment is now. Politicians and civil servants have to walk the talk and see that institutional reforms are carried through to overcome the scourge of corruption.