The prime minister also said asset declaration would be part of the ministers key performance index (KPI).
“The initiative will be extended to include parliamentarians, even those from the opposition in future,” he said at the launch of myPortfolio, an initiative to improve the civil service delivery system.
When asked why the initiative would include opposition MPs as well, Mahathir said it was because they have the “power” to criticise the government.
“So for a fee, they may criticise, so they must declare their assets,” he added.
He said the initiative can be implemented once it is approved by the Dewan Rakyat speaker.
The remaining four proposals are: to impose a limit of RM500 for gifts, which are restricted to food and flowers; for ministers to chair meetings on governance, integrity and anti-corruption; to increase transparency in public procurements; and to implement an anti-corruption plan at the organisational level.
Land swap controversy
Mahathir also said the government would act against retired civil servants who were involved in the controversial land swaps carried out during Barisan Nasional’s administration. These were reported to have cost Putrajaya more than RM500 million.
When reminded that some of those involved were ministers in his Cabinet during his first tenure as prime minister, Mahathir said the police would investigate the former PM as well.
“Nobody is above the law.”
It was recently reported that a total of 16 land swaps took place at Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur, Tanah Batu Uban in Penang, Bukit Raja in Selangor, Plentong in Johor, Tanah Rata in Pahang, Bandar Kinrara in Selangor, and Stampin in Sarawak.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said 13 of the 16 land swaps carried out during the previous administration involved his predecessor and the former prime minister.
On deporting Thai woman wanted over anti-monarchy views
Mahathir also defended Putrajaya’s decision to deport a woman wanted by authorities in Thailand over her anti-monarchy views.
“If there is a request, we have no choice but to send her back,” he said.
He was referring to Praphan Pipithnamporn, an asylum-seeker registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who was repatriated last week after being arrested by Malaysian police in April on Thailand’s request.
Authorities accused her of sedition and organised crime over her involvement with the Organization for Thai Federation, a tiny movement which has been actively calling for a republic on social media.
Report on investors’ confidence
Mahathir also brushed off a report by Bloomberg that investors were losing patience and confidence in the country due to the slow reforms carried out by the Pakatan Harapan administration, saying his government had scored high points for several of its measures.
This, he said, made Malaysia a good country to invest in.
“But ‘great experts’ write in the press that Malaysia is very bad, as if we are going through a war. Actually we are performing very well and investments are coming in.
“Please report the truth, don’t report fake news.”
EC directive barring ministers from campaigning during office hours
Mahathir said he would ask the Election Commission (EC) to reconsider a directive prohibiting ministers and politicians with government posts from campaigning during by-elections.
Describing it as unfair, he said ministers work past the normal hours of nine to five each day.
“The EC drew up these conditions and we find them grossly unfair to the government. Therefore, we are going to ask the EC to reconsider its condition against government officials from campaigning.
“This restriction can give an advantage to the opposition because they don’t have any work. They campaign because they want to get a job.”
May 13 reports
He also said Putrajaya would study a proposal for the documents on the May 13 racial riots to be declassified, following calls by human rights watchdog Suara Rakyat Malaysia director and author Kua Kia Soong.
“We will study that,” he said.
Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday that Putrajaya had not received any formal request to declassify reports on the incident.