Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan said this in rebuking Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor (or Ku Nan) over the latter’s response as to why he cannot declare his assets.

“He (Ku Nan) should not insult the police, by insinuating that they cannot be trusted to ensure the safety of public officials.

“The police have done their job effectively for decades. Show the police some respect and trust. Don’t use them as an excuse to hide information from the public,” Wan Saiful said.

On Sunday, Ku Nan said he would not declare his assets to the public as it might make his family a target of criminals.

Ku Nan said as a former businessman, he had a lot of assets, and that he already made annual declarations to Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Wan Saiful said countries around the world have been able to balance the need for public accountability while managing concerns over privacy and safety of public officials, and Malaysia should be no different.

In Indonesia, Wan Saiful said, public officials had been declaring their assets for many years, and public officials there don’t cite safety concerns as a reason not to do so.

“Being a politician or public official imposes an expectation of accountability and duty upon oneself. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Wan Saiful said that since former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s tenure, the public had been demanding for the public declaration of assets, but officials and politicians from both sides of the political divide have continuously evaded the issue.

He added that the current practice of declaring assets to the Prime Minister or Chief Minister is insufficient and does not follow international standards.

“The Selangor State Government has already started the process of having state legislative assemblypersons declare their assets,” he said, adding this was a good move.