KUCHING: The Dewan Rakyat’s approval of a special motion to get all members of parliament (MPs) to declare their assets and those of their direct family members has been described as a pioneering achievement.
“The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is serious about combating corruption and thus its strong determination to go for reform,” said Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong Wui Wui during a press conference yesterday at Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters here.
She hoped that MPs of the opposition party, especially the 19 members from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will declare their assets as quickly as possible and not come up with excuses to delay or frustrate PH’s initiative to push for clean and transparent governance and administration.
She figured that if they (GPS MPs) had obtained their assets including their luxurious houses by legal means, then they should be able to give their full cooperation and declare their assets within the shortest period of time.
“Real gold is not afraid of the furnace fire,” she said, quoting a proverb.
Yong, who is also DAP Sarawak organising secretary, recalled that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sarawak director Razim Mohd Noor said they had already given asset declaration forms with complete guidelines and samples to the chief minister in mid-March this year.
“All MPs including those from GPS should respect the motion passed by the Parliament. After all, the MPs are lawmakers and should lead by example,” she said.
Any MP who goes against the motion would be in contempt of Parliament and can be referred to the Committee of Privileges which can act under Section 80A of the Standing Order of the Dewan Rakyat.
