Public Can No Longer Access Ministers Asset Declaration After Details Removed From MACC Website
It is unclear when the details were removed.
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It appears that the Cabinet Ministers’ asset declaration details have been removed from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) portal (HERE).
Checks by TRP shows that the monthly income statements for members of the government administration previously displayed on the website have been removed and only states if officials have declared their assets or not.
(Credit: The Sun Daily)
The changes came to light as MACC recently relaunched its website on 2 February.
Last known reports from September 2020 indicate that Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan is the highest earner in the administration, with a monthly income of RM143,628.55, while Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s monthly income is RM104,000.
However, Saravanan’s declared assets of less than RM1 million is significantly lower than the prime minister’s declared assets ranging between RM10 million – RM15 million.
READ MORE: Turns Out, HR Minister Is Cabinet’s Highest Earner, Beating Out Even The Prime Minister
It is unclear when the details were removed from the portal that is updated every 3 months.
How Malaysia’s asset declaration works
(Credit: UNCAC & MACC)
The MACC Asset Declaration Portal was launched in November 2018 under the Pakatan Harapan administration.
Then in July 2019, Dewan Rakyat made a unanimous decision to compel all Members of Parliament (MP) to declare their assets, including those of their spouses, children, and trustees through a statutory declaration.
However, asset declaration is not yet legally mandatory in Malaysia. If MPs do not declare their assets, only Parliament can take action against them.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil later stated that the enforcement body is seeking a law to make it compulsory for MPs to declare their assets.
Without a compulsory asset declaration law, the MACC only played a “custodian” role in the case of asset declaration forms handed to it and does not perform any verification on the asset declaration documents submitted.
Currently, asset declaration is a precondition for confirmation and promotion of all public officials under Chapter A (Appointment, Promotion and Termination of Service) of the General Order, which includes members of administration, judges, Members of Parliament and public officers.
Those who fail to declare their assets, shall be subjected to disciplinary action under the Public Officers Regulations (Conduct and Discipline) 1993. Possible punishments among others are warning, demotion and dismissal.
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