Abu Kassim Mohamed, who heads Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) at the Prime Minister’s Office, said this was because politicians could already have businesses or properties before they were elected.

“Monitoring their assets is more important,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on money laundering.

Abu Kassim, who is the former chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said the anti-graft body should come up with ways to monitor growth of their assets.

He also said all MPs should declare their assets, and not only those from the ruling coalition.

He said asset declarations could be made mandatory for those running for political office.

“We can recommend that to the reform committee on the Election Commission for discussion.”

PH had promised that its leaders as well as ministers would declare their assets.

MACC had previously said details of asset declarations would be published on its portal.