Umno yet to decide on pre-polls assets declaration

Umno has yet to discuss the idea of getting its new election candidates to declare their assets, said the party information chief Ahmad Maslan.
 
“For those with posts such as minister and deputy minister, we have (already) filed asset declaration forms with the Prime Minister’s Department. The same applies to state exco members,” he said.

“However for new candidates, as far as I know this has never been discussed. Our problem is that our candidates’ list is long and has yet to be finalised.”
 
He was responding to a question at a press conference this morning, after a walkabout at the Jalan Duta bus terminal.

Ahmad, who is also a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, was asked if Umno would follow the move announced by PAS Selangor and Pahang.
 
He explained the status quo is for ministers and exco members to report their assets when they take office and every two years after that.
 
Asked if this applies to parliamentarians, he said: “If I am not mistaken, yes, but I am not sure. But for ministers and deputy ministers like me, we already have done so.”
 
In vetting election candidates, he said, the current approach is to check their name and MyKad number with several government departments, including the Department of Insolvency.

‘Gov’t is tackling graft’
 
Ahmad was also asked to comment on Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor’s statement that the party’s biggest challenge is to tackle the perception that Umno is corrupt and elitist.

Noting that corruption is a result of poor ethics and does not recognise party lines, Ahmad said it would be left “to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and other authorities to tackle the issue”. 

“The important thing is that the government is serious in tackling corruption. Is the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s administration neglecting corruption? No. That’s what is important.”
 
Ahmad was at the bus terminal to distribute leaflets and booklets on government policies and Budget 2013.
 
“Hi, how are you? I am a deputy minister, where are you going?” he asked various travellers.

“Please read this pamphlet about 1Malaysia, and this booklet about the Budget. Share it with your friends!”
 
Ahmad said he has been on walkabouts at various public places since January, and urged the party machinery to help distribute the leaflets.

These are available at various government agencies, including the Information Ministry’s Special Affairs Department.