Hishammuddin: Mandatory asset declaration for MPs 'is like a fishing expedition'

KUALA LUMPUR (July 2): Former Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today the motion that compels members of parliament (MPs), their spouses, children, and trustees, to declare their assets by Oct 1 this year "is like a fishing expedition".

Hishammuddin, who is also former defence minister, questioned the rationale of the motion, which was passed in Parliament yesterday. Today, he told reporters at the Parliament lobby that current government MPs will have to prove that the existing administration is sincere and that what the government is trying to do is really transparent for the sake of the public.

"Before the motion was made yesterday, there are still 12 opposition MPs who have not declared their assets, 22 others have not declared assets for their families, including one senator, who is a deputy minister.

"So asking the opposition to do something is like a fishing expedition to me, you have to lead by example, prove to us that you are sincere, that what you are trying to do is really transparent for the sake of the public, because you are in power, we are not, so you want to fish our asset, for what reason? The government MPs will have to prove themselves first," he said.

The Edge Financial Daily reported today that the Parliament had passed the special motion yesterday that compel MPs to declare their assets — including those held by their spouses, children and trustees.

It was reported that the motion was approved following a five-hour debate session where opposition MPs argued the rationale of regulating asset declaration via a motion instead of amending the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2019.

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