Hadi slams asset declarations as ‘a form of stupidity’
Abdul Hadi Awang says all that candidates need to show are that they are good people.
PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has slammed PKR’s mandatory asset declaration for its candidates contesting in the general election (GE15).
“Asset declaration is sometimes a form of stupidity. They want to show off,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
“What should we show the public? We should show that we are good people,” he said after delivering his weekly lecture in Marang, Terengganu.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman was asked to comment on whether PAS would follow PKR’s footsteps in having election candidates declare their assets.
Hadi’s comments come as PAS vice-president Amar Nik Abdullah yesterday said the party’s leaders were “embarrassed” to make asset declarations as they are not wealthy like “some candidates who are millionaires”.
Anti-graft activists have pushed election candidates to follow the example of their PKR counterparts and declare their assets. Apart from boosting a candidate’s credibility and integrity, they say asset declarations are also crucial for public accountability.
Following in PKR’s footsteps, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa also declared their assets ahead of the Nov 19 polls. The former, who is defending his Muar seat, valued his assets at RM1.9 million, while the latter, who hopes to retain the Parit Buntar seat, valued his assets at RM2.45 million.
While Mujahid said Amanah has no party-wide stance on the public declaration of assets, he said all its GE15 candidates have declared their assets to the party.
DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook yesterday said the party does not have any plans to make it mandatory for its GE15 candidates to declare their assets, although he said those who were elected would be required to do so.
In PN and Barisan Nasional, candidates such as Azmin Ali and Khairy Jamaluddin have spoken out against asset declarations for GE15 candidates, with the former calling it “election theathrics” and the latter describing it as unnecessary.
PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has slammed PKR’s mandatory asset declaration for its candidates contesting in the general election (GE15).
“Asset declaration is sometimes a form of stupidity. They want to show off,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
“What should we show the public? We should show that we are good people,” he said after delivering his weekly lecture in Marang, Terengganu.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman was asked to comment on whether PAS would follow PKR’s footsteps in having election candidates declare their assets.
Hadi’s comments come as PAS vice-president Amar Nik Abdullah yesterday said the party’s leaders were “embarrassed” to make asset declarations as they are not wealthy like “some candidates who are millionaires”.
Anti-graft activists have pushed election candidates to follow the example of their PKR counterparts and declare their assets. Apart from boosting a candidate’s credibility and integrity, they say asset declarations are also crucial for public accountability.
Following in PKR’s footsteps, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa also declared their assets ahead of the Nov 19 polls. The former, who is defending his Muar seat, valued his assets at RM1.9 million, while the latter, who hopes to retain the Parit Buntar seat, valued his assets at RM2.45 million.
While Mujahid said Amanah has no party-wide stance on the public declaration of assets, he said all its GE15 candidates have declared their assets to the party.
DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook yesterday said the party does not have any plans to make it mandatory for its GE15 candidates to declare their assets, although he said those who were elected would be required to do so.
In PN and Barisan Nasional, candidates such as Azmin Ali and Khairy Jamaluddin have spoken out against asset declarations for GE15 candidates, with the former calling it “election theathrics” and the latter describing it as unnecessary.
Only a dishonest person would criticise this idea of declaring one's assets.
ReplyDeleteIf you are poor with little assets, you will be able to hold your head up with pride and dignity because you know you are "clean". Nothing to be ashamed of. The voters will see you are "clean". It is a plus point in the eyes of voters.
The late Nik Aziz (Tok Guru) despite being an MB insisted on living in his humble home, refusing the trappings of an MB that he was entitled to.
It was one reason the late Lee Kuan Yew visited Tok Guru when he (LKY) did a tour of Malaysia (2009) some time back. His (LKY) admiration for Tok Guru is proven by this courtesy visit.
Mind you, LKY avoided and did not extend the same courtesy to the old buffoon (MM) who called LKY the "little emperor"