Zaid, who is a former federal minister, said the new political leadership of the country must show the people they are sincere.
“What is lacking today is that the people don’t trust their leaders. So, they must be sincere.
“If you are anti-corruption, you must be prepared to declare your assets and your family’s assets.
“Otherwise, don’t become a minister,” Zaid told reporters after the “Pakatan Menuju Putrajaya” forum at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here last night.
He also said Pakatan Harapan must make the civil service professional and corruption free, as graft in the government wasn’t limited to leaders alone.
Zaid, who is a DAP member, said when there was corruption in the civil service, the efforts of the government wouldn’t reach the people and would result in wastage, with the cost of projects getting inflated.
He added that transparency measures were essential and must also apply to those holding important positions, from the inspector-general of police to the chief justice.
“Pakatan Harapan must take steps, otherwise people won’t see any difference.”
Zaid had previously been reported as suggesting that the top five potential ministers from Pakatan Harapan challenge the top five ministers in the country to declare their assets.
He listed the five government ministers as Prime Minister Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He added that the declaration should encompass the assets of their spouses and children as well.
Earlier this year, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Akhbar Satar said Najib and his future successors should declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He said if Najib led the way in the matter, there would be no excuse for leaders of the executive, legislative, judiciary and civil service not to do the same.
It has been a long-held practice by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for Umno office bearers and ministers to only declare their assets to the prime minister, who is also the Umno president.
This matter drew some attention early last month when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that in 1996, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made an assets declaration that he had RM230 million in his bank account after his appointment as Umno Youth chief.
MACC says ready to call Mahathir if it decides to probe Zahid