Pas does not require candidates to declare assets

Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has said that there is no need for party candidates to declare their assets before the upcoming state elections.

Instead, he said that the Pas ulama consultative council is sufficient to assess the eligibility of candidates.

"For Pas, what is important in facing the upcoming state polls on Aug 12 is to present a lineup of candidates who can be trusted and ready to serve the people and the country," Tuan Ibrahim told Sinar Premium.

"The ulama council will assess the eligibility of candidates from the perspective of syariah, while each winning candidate will be monitored by the party itself to ensure they fulfill their entrusted duties to the best of their abilities," he said.

Tuan Ibrahim clarified that the suggestion to declare assets is not a concrete guarantee that there will be no corruption and abuse of power due to various weaknesses in human regulations.

"What is important is the honesty and trustworthiness of a leader and the consideration of sin and reward in their lives," he said.

Meanwhile, Pas deputy secretary-general Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman said that all decisions regarding the requirement for candidates of the party to declare their assets are subjected to the decision of the top leadership.

"We will comply," he said briefly when contacted.

Asset declaration could be used as political weapon

In a related matter, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Supreme Council member Muhammad Faiz Na'aman opined that the process of asset declaration for candidates participating in the state polls is feared to be used by opposing parties as a political weapon or sabotage.

Although asset declaration is seen as an integrity measure by some parties, it can also be used for malicious purposes, he said.

"Sabotage can and always does happen in the political world, whether subtly or openly.

"For example, if an opposition politician declares their assets and it turns out that they are wealthy, the opposing party will try to uncover their employment and business background.

"This is especially true if the business of the politician is connected to any government contracts or involves public interests," he told Sinar Premium.

Muhammad Faiz said that there is no guarantee that the suggestion to declare assets can prevent corruption in the future.

"For example, certain parties may provide sponsorship to a politician which may not be included in the definition of their assets to be declared publicly.

"So far, there is no law that prohibits such sponsorship unless it can be proven that there is a specific interest between the sponsoring party and the politician in power," he added.