Pakatan Harapan Candidate For Subang Declares Rolex Watches Worth RM90k Among His Assets
PKR’s Wong Chen has RM5.06 million in assets as of 31 Oct.
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A Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate has declared his assets in a move aimed at promoting transparency.
Wong Chen, the PH candidate for the Subang Parliamentary seat, has declared he has assets worth RM5.06 million.
The 53-year-old lawyer made the declaration in a sworn statement posted on his social media account.
The assets are probably loose change for many Malaysian politicians but a fortune for most of the country.
In his declaration of assets, Wong revealed that he had:
- RM310,000 cash
- Fixed deposit of RM460,000.
- Two Rolex watches worth RM90,000.
- A Volvo and Volkswagen worth RM300,000 combined.
- Shares amounting to RM3.79 million.
As an MP, Wong Chen earns RM26,000 a month, which means he doesn’t need to eat instant noodles for all practical intent.
Gaji menteri x masuk. Gaji MP berpuluh riban. Acah2 makan maggi, rakyat dah berzaman hadap maggi tu sebab duit rakyat dah disedut pemimpin BN https://t.co/VctoL6vytz
— Juan_Banjari (@jan_banjari) October 31, 2022
Wong has previously criticised the federal government for avoiding a firm stance on requiring cabinet ministers, MPs and top civil servants to declare their assets.
It’s A Rich Man’s World
Many of Wong’s peers in Parliament are considerably wealthier.
In 2019, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) listed Segamat MP Edmund Santhara as the wealthiest at RM132mil.
In 2018, Julau MP Larry Sng declared his and his wife’s assets at around RM11.78 million to MACC.
The same year, Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said his assets were valued at RM82 million.
The wealth of MPs has come under heavier scrutiny in recent times, significantly when political parties raise funds from the public.
DAP lebih dari mampu untuk bersolidariti bersama Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Pusat, 42 Ahli Parlimen dan 94 Adun (136 wakil rakyat ini hanya perlu sumbang seorang RM7,352.94).
— Faizal Riduan (@faizalriduan) August 8, 2020
*Wakil rakyat kedua terkaya di Malaysia, YB @ngehkooham.
**20 Ahli Parlimen miliki aset <RM1,000,000.
3A/3 pic.twitter.com/YUZYECPY6t
The Politics Of The Rich And Poor
While elected politicians are entitled to their salaries and perks for their public service, it has attracted criticism due to their high pay relative to the average Malaysian.
In Malaysia, fresh graduates earn between RM 1,500 and RM 3,600, with the average being RM2,500 across most industries.
Unemployment, underemployment and shorter hours are factors in keeping wages too low.
READ MORE: Malaysian Employers Are Considered The Most Stingy In Southeast Asia
Gaji starting 2.7k-3.1k ni nmpk macam tinggi kan utk fresh grad. Sebenarnya amount ni sama jaa dari 10 tahun lepas. Dah 10 tahun org anggap gaji tu kira tinggi tapi harga benda lain dah tak sama macam 10 tahun dulu. https://t.co/YnC2y5DLdg
— 🏳️🌈MEINCARI🏳️🌈JOB CYTRO UTK PRU (@meinmokhtar) September 30, 2022
Political parties are going into GE15 primarily on a promise to tackle corruption and mismanagement.
Corruption is a major problem in this former Asian tiger economy.
Among the burden is the remaining debt commitment of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which is RM32.08 billion as of 30 June.
READ MORE: Poor Malaysians Stay Poor And That’s A Fact
Hutang 1MDB Hanya Akan Habis Dibayar Pada Tahun 2037, Kerajaan Dijangka Membelanjakan RM28 Bilion Untuk Membayar Hutang 1MDB Untuk Tahun Ini & Hadapan
— Ekonomi Rakyat (@EkonomiRakyatMY) November 1, 2022
” Dalam erti kata lain, sekiranya wang tersebut tidak dicuri, kita tidak perlu membiayai negeri Perak selama tempoh 28 tahun.” pic.twitter.com/s3LmsIP7BZ
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