KUALA LUMPUR: The newly-established National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) will be the custodian of information on assets declared by ministers, deputy ministers, political secretaries and top government officials.
The centre is headed by Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who is former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner.
The New Straits Times contacted Abu Kassim to ask for details on how the centre will manage the data and was told an official statement would be given soon on the centre’s plans and mechanism for the initiative.
It is understood that asset declarations by ministers and their deputies is not new.
In the past, the practice of declaring assets by top government officials only ended at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Until today, there has never been an independent body that was given access to view or analyse this information.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said asset declaration reports would be given to him, but he would not keep them.
Instead, the reports would be given to agencies dealing with corruption.
He said the government would study whether details of the asset declarations would be made public.
“The prime minister cannot conceal corruption committed by officers or administrators,” said Dr Mahathir after chairing a Cabinet Committee Meeting on Government Management Integrity at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
In the past, members of parliament, civil servants and government officials were required to declare their assets to the prime minister through the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The policy was strengthened under the administration of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he announced that declarations of assets by government officials must be made twice every five years (one term).
The time frame for this practice was later revised, compelling ministers, deputy ministers, special officers to ministers and other officials to declare their assets to the prime minister annually.
The parliamentarian Code of Ethics requires members of parliament to declare their wealth every two years, though they are not legally required to do so.
Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar said it made sense for assets declaration data to be sent to MACC.
“The commission has the expertise and technology to detect discrepancies in such asset declaration reports.”
He, however, hoped that the policy would cover all segments of the government and civil service, including top officials at the state level.
“State executive council members and officials must declare assets to MACC. That’s the first stage. Then, maybe later on, they can declare it publicly online.
“Top government heads, such as the attorney-general, inspector-general of police and chief secretary to the government, should also declare their assets to MACC.”
He said previously, heads of departments needed to declare their assets to only the chief secretary to the government.
“But we do not want that. It should directly be to MACC.
“There should be stages as to when you need to declare them.
“First, when you report for duty in a new position. Second, when you are serving in that position, either once every one or two years, and finally, when you end your term.
“In this initial phase, these assets can be declared to MACC. Once we get the hang of it, we can start making it public,” said Akhbar.
Malaysian Institute of Integrity (Integriti) deputy chief executive officer Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin said the decision to have ministers, deputy ministers and political secretaries declaring their assets would allow good governance, integrity and transparency to prevail in the administration.
He said it showed that the government was open about creating a corruption-free and high integrity environment that the people wanted.
“The prime minister’s stance is that the information he receives about assets of top officials will not be hidden. This information will be presented to agencies responsible for the prevention of corruption, and Integriti is fully supportive of this.”