Liew: Contempt of Parliament if MPs refuse to declare assets
Refusal by federal lawmakers to declare their assets will amount to contempt of Parliament, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.
He said should the motion on the asset declaration be adopted by the lower house of Parliament next week, all members of parliament would face disciplinary action if they failed to adhere to the new law.
Liew was commenting on the government’s proposed bill to compel lawmakers and their families to declare their assets.
He added that the new law would also be extended to members of Dewan Negara.
“This also extends to senators,” Liew said.
“This involves asset declaration of MPs, their spouses and their children who are below 21 years,” he said.
On the penalty likely to be imposed on those who refuse to declare their assets, Liew said they would be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee chaired by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.
Lee said the bill would be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow and it would be up to the speaker to set the number of MPs allowed to debate it.
“I urge all MPs to participate in the voting because it involves them. Once the bill is approved, they will have three months to declare their assets.”
The bill proposes that lawmakers must declare their assets through a statutory declaration (SD) and a copy of the declaration will then be submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief.
The list of MPs who had declared their assets would also be displayed on the MACC portal.
Speaking after opening the Silverton Capital and Unicorn Hub Co-working Space here yesterday, Liew called upon all MPs to back and participate in the “historic” bill to amend the Federal Constitution, which was to lower the voting age from the current 21 to 18.
“This is the single most important historical development in the country after we gained our independence. We are giving the youth the chance to vote at the age of 18.
“Pakatan Harapan has only 139 MPs and we need 148 MPs for a two-thirds majority to amend the Federal Constitution, which means we are short of nine people. The Dewan Rakyat, which has 222 members, sees the opposition bench made up of Umno, MIC, MCA and Pas comprising 58 members, Sarawak-based Gabungan Parti Sarawak making up 18 members, Independents (3), Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (3) and Sarawak United Party (1)
“So I hope the opposition and independent MPs would support this bill.
On the motion to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, Liew said it would also be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat session.
On the abolishment of the death penalty, Liew hoped that it would be tabled next month but noted that it might take a while as there were several matters to be finalised.