Hotly debated from noon until around 6pm, the motion to make MPs declare assets was unanimously approved despite heavy resistance.
The Dewan Rakyat approved the special motion to compel all lawmakers, their spouses and children below the age of 21, as well as trustees to declare their assets.
The motion was approved via a voice vote with no dissenting voice coming from the Opposition bloc on Monday (July 1).
This is despite opposition lawmakers earlier arguing that Putrajaya had brought up an illegal motion in the House.
After close to five hours of debate and a winding-up speech by de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof called for a voice vote.
When he asked whether MPs agreed with the motion, there was a chorus of “Agree” from the government’s side.
Ariff then asked if anyone disagreed with the motion. He appeared to be startled when nobody objected, as the opposition side was largely silent.
“There is no voice (in the House) that disagreed (with the motion),” he noted, after which the sitting was adjourned.
Liew said he had met with Ariff last week, who was satisfied that the motion fulfilled the requirements of the Standing Orders.
He also assured lawmakers that this motion is the first step for the government before drafting a new law of such nature.
Liew noted that a total 10 government lawmakers who joined Pakatan Harapan recently and newly elected Sandakan MP Vivian Wong have yet to declare their assets.
The government wanted the MPs to declare their asset every two years, he said.
After the motion was passed today, the lawmakers are now given three months until Oct 1 to declare their assets.
Under the motion, lawmakers found providing false declaration will be subject to Section 199 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 193, which provides for a maximum three-year jail sentence and a fine upon conviction.
Earlier, Opposition lawmakers had questioned the validity of the special motion, asking why an actual Bill was not tabled to compel them to declare their assets.
Some felt that while the government had good intentions for greater transparency in eradicating corruption, asset declaration should be done by the way of law.
Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said lawmakers have a fundamental right to privacy.
He questioned the need to know about an MP’s income.
“It is a legitimate source of income, so why do people need to know? What about the rights of the individual (MP)?”
He argued that Opposition lawmakers were not government officials with the power to award contracts, effectively precluding opportunities for them to be corrupt.
According to PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Islam purportedly does not allow the declaration of wealth as this would raise security concerns.
He said the hadith warns that going public with one’s wealth could harm personal safety and create jealousy.
“If God gives us wealth, you do not reveal it to the public, because it will create attention and envy,” he said.
“It will be a real security concern for those who are declaring and also their family members. This concern should be considered.”
He said any move to have MPs declare their wealth should be through legislation, adding that there were mechanisms in place.
“And all incomes are reported every year to the Internal Revenue Board,” he said.
“We will not support it unless it becomes legislation. It is pointless if it’s just a special motion,” he said to reporters when met at Parliament lobby.
The government has legal no basis to impose a ruling to compel all lawmakers to declare their assets including the assets of their family members, say opposition lawmakers.
PAS’ Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan and other opposition lawmakers even pledged not to declare their assets even if the motion is passed.
“I will not follow the motion. Let action be taken because it is based on an irregularity,” he said.
Takiyuddin also asked if action had been taken by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the income tax authorities against those who had declared their assets, saying some MPs from Pakatan Harapan had “extraordinary” assets.
He named Mukhriz Mahathir (PH-Jerlun) who declared a monthly salary of RM105,000 a month as Kedah menteri besar along with assets of RM25 million.
He also named Mustapa Mohamad (PH-Jeli) who declared a salary of RM57,000 a month and assets of RM5 million.
“Has that been probed?” he asked.