The communications minister said “many MPs” have already declared their assets, adding that he had also declared his assets previously.
“So it’s not an issue. But in the context of the Subang MP asking for civil servants (to be imposed mandatory asset declaration), perhaps that is his personal view,” he told reporters after attending the Lembah Pantai Peduli Ummah Tour programme today.
Yesterday, Wong called for Putrajaya to make asset declarations mandatory for elected representatives, but admitted that component parties in the unity government may lack the appetite for it.
He said that if it cannot be done for PKR’s coalition partners, then “at least implement it for the civil servants”.
Wong said judges and members of the civil service, including ministry secretaries-general and their deputies, should be required to declare their assets to enhance transparency and inspire confidence.
Earlier today, Cuepacs clarified that civil servants are already required to declare their assets every five years, a practice that will continue under the new Public Service Remuneration System.
Its secretary-general, Abdul Rahman Nordin, said the legal department of each agency is tasked with monitoring the declaration process.
The government had previously spoken of its intention to introduce asset declarations for MPs and administrative officials.
Civil servants are presently required to declare their assets to their heads of department.
In June, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said that the revised format of the declaration had not yet been finalised, but she expected the updated version to be presented to the Cabinet “soon”.
However, there have been no updates on the matter since.
Fahmi, who is the Lembah Pantai MP, also said former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming’s stance on the matter should be viewed as his personal opinion.
Ong had questioned why civil servants, rather than elected politicians, should take the lead in declaring their assets.
“Isn’t transparency something supported by the Madani government?” he asked on Instagram yesterday.