Perikatan Nasional is prepared to require its MPs to declare their assets if the coalition returns to power after the next elections, says its chief whip, Takiyuddin Hassan.
“Of course, there is no problem for (PN MPs) to declare their assets (if PN returns to Putrajaya),” he told FMT.
Takiyuddin, who is also the PAS secretary-general, said MPs appointed as ministers or deputy ministers must make asset declarations, as they are not permitted to engage in business activities.
However, opposition MPs are not required to do so at present, as they do not hold government positions.
The Kota Bharu MP also noted that ordinary MPs from both sides of the divide, who are allowed to engage in business, are still required to declare their annual income to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
His remarks come after Bersih chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz said opposition MPs have yet to declare their assets ahead of elections, despite repeated calls from civil society.
Faisal said the only ones to have done so to date were politicians from PKR, a component of Pakatan Harapan. He said this was likely due to the party’s culture of being transparent.
A majority of PKR‘s 72 election candidates declared their assets in November 2022, including PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as then deputy president Rafizi Ramli.
Bersih had previously urged candidates in the Sabah state election, to be held next month, to declare their assets, for the sake of greater transparency, especially over campaign resources.
