PAHANG Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob’s announcement that he and 10 state executive council members will declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was a breath of fresh air at a time when Malaysians wake up to bad news most mornings. The message Adnan wants to send to the people of Pahang is that the “Pahang government, its menteri besar and exco members are together in fighting corruptionâ€. It is a positive first step, and inspires hope that those holding office in other states will also voluntarily divulge their assets before, during and upon leaving their terms. If we accept the idea that public office is synonymous with high morality, then, public sector officials with power must show that they are acting for those they serve and not for personal gain. Transparency, accountability and integrity are must-have traits of those who have the authority to decide contracts, allocate budgets and oversee a variety of decisions that involve taxpayers money. Adnan’s point that top public officials in Pahang might be among the first in the country to disclose details of their assets is a telling comment on the state of asset declaration regime in Malaysia.
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