Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has taken a jab at political leaders who are hesitant to declare their assets, questioning their motives and emphasising the importance of transparency in governance.
“If you’re innocent, why refuse to declare assets?” Anwar said, without mentioning any name, during a groundbreaking ceremony in Bukit Jalil, where he addressed the ongoing battle against corruption and financial mismanagement under the Madani government.
Elaborating on asset declaration, Anwar noted that political leaders, especially those in high positions like prime minister or finance minister, must be held to a higher standard of accountability.
“When we ask them to declare their assets, they get angry, they seek revenge. But what’s there to be afraid of if you’re innocent?” Anwar asked.
Anwar underscored his own commitment to transparency, stating that he would be willing to declare his assets again if required.
“Even if I’m asked to declare my assets tomorrow, I will do it. Dig as deep as you want. This is what it means to be a leader and set an example,” he said.
Previously, Perikatan Nasional unanimously rejected the opposition allocation memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the government proposed, including clauses such as MPs are required to declare their assets, a measure previously reserved for ministers and deputy ministers.
After the failed negotiations, opposition chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan demanded a new MOU, claiming that the draft did not include PN’s input.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister ll Fadillah Yusoff said the government has no plans to discuss the draft agreement further.
Anwar further stressed that corruption remains a significant issue, with leaders often hiding behind race and religion to mask their unethical behaviour.
“Some people talk about the Malays, about Islam, but in reality, they’re plundering the nation’s wealth,” he said.
He also said that the country had been losing substantial amounts of money due to leakages in government contracts.
He pointed out that the problem is not minor, with losses running into “hundreds of millions, even billions of ringgit”.
“How can a country progress when this kind of leakage continues to occur? And we’re not talking about small amounts, we’re talking about billions,” he added.
He further emphasised that clean governance is essential for the nation’s progress and to truly uphold Islamic values.
“To raise the status of Islam in this country, our governance must be efficient and swift,” Anwar concluded. – Malaysiakini