IN a brief response to the media, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said there was no problem for him or the Cabinet, and Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to declare their assets.
“Declare it, no problem,” he reportedly said.
However, asset declaration is now the new battle cry of some in the political arena.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Anwar’s failure to declare his assets while in office is a setback for reform efforts.
Anwar has declared his assets on several occasions, including in 2022. That was when PKR president declared a house and three plots of land worth RM10.35 mil and around RM829,000 in cash and savings.
While Johari believes that the PM and the Cabinet have no issue with asset declaration, opposition leaders are yet to declare their assets.
In 2022, PAS stated that there is no need for its candidates to declare their assets ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15).
Party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang clarified that this decision does not reflect a lack of transparency but rather that it is not an urgent matter and would be a waste of effort. However, he added that PAS would not oppose any candidates who choose to declare their assets.
Johari himself had previously declared his assets when he was a minister during the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“When I was a minister, I declared (my assets). No problem,” he told the media during the Women’s Empowerment Programme at the PPR Hiliran Ampang here today.
Recently, Anwar was reported saying he is ready to declare his assets at any time. He also mentioned that his government is actively fighting corruption and abuse of power.
Following this, Tuan Ibrahim was quoted expressing surprise that Anwar had not declared his assets despite being PM for almost two years. – Sept 28, 2024
