KUCHING: Declaration of assets should be carried out every five years to increase the transparency and effectiveness of such policies, said Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak senior lecturer Dr Ang Chung Huap (pic).
He said this in reference to the urging of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Monday (August 19) for politicians with access to public funds to declare their assets in efforts to prevent corruption.
Likewise, he felt that a strict yearly bias auditing process by charted auditors should also be carried out on the usage of any public funds.
“The reports of such audits should be accessible to the public,” he remarked.
Expressing his full support for the efforts by MACC, Dr Ang opined that asset declarations should not only be carried out by politicians, but also by their direct descendants or family members.
“This should not be restricted to those who have direct access to public funds, but also parliament members, state assembly representatives and councillors.
“Every state government must support the bill and ensure the legislation regarding declaration of assets by DUN (state legislative assembly) members and councillors,” he stated.
Earlier, MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya also urged state assemblymen and local councillors to declare their assets.
Dr Ang shared his view that it should be punishable by law if politicians and policy-makers did not declare their assets accordingly.
