KOTA KINABALU: Members of the Sabah State Cabinet will submit the personal asset declarations directly to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Musa, who is also Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said this in his written answer to a question raised by DAP assemblyman for Luyang Hiew King Cheu in the just concluded Sabah State Legislative Assembly.
Hiew had asked the Chief Minister whether appointed members of the State Cabinet of Sabah were required to declare their personal assets as a measure to ensure that there was no “get rich fast” type of situation happening during their term in office.
Musa in his reply said appointed Sabah cabinet members were to forward the declaration of their personal assets directly to him.
This is practised in the BN government and applies to the state and federal levels.
In a statement yesterday, Hiew urged the Chief Minister to emulate the PR-led Penang state government and make public the declaration of assets submitted by Musa and his cabinet members.
Hiew felt that the declaration of personal assets would act as an indicator that the cabinet ministers and chief minister would not abuse their power and became rich while holding their positions.
This is especially so when they are not allowed by the State Constitution to hold any office that can bring income.
“The point is why only he knows and not others? In Penang, their cabinet had made the same declaration openly and widely published in the news media.
“This is for the credibility, accountability and transparency that a good government should adopt and practise,” Hiew added.