IT’S unbelievable that the opposition is against the declaration of assets by elected representatives.
One leader even misinterpreted a hadith about displaying one’s wealth.
According to him, it states that if God gives wealth, do not display it as there will be many who will scrutinise it.
An appropriate interpretation would be about flaunting one’s God given wealth with the intention of riak (showing off wealth) to create envy. It is to elevate oneself to a position of arrogance and superiority.
Declaring one’s assets as a people’s representative is the responsibility of a public servant to avoid accusations of using his public office for illegal gains.
This is part of the accountability of elected representatives.
This is important to avoid past mistakes where leaders and civil servants allegedly abused their positions to amass wealth.
This is not an invasion of privacy, but an act of integrity in line with the teachings of Islam.
MOHAMED GHOUSE NASURUDDIN
Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia