KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Some Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders have expressed support for the pact’s election candidates to declare their assets, but pointed out drawbacks that could turn the move into a political handicap.

Chief among these was the concern that openly declaring their assets could make the pact’s politicians appear affluent compared to the general public.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said he personally backed such an initiative, as it would let voters scrutinise a candidate's source of income as well as expose suspicious levels of wealth.

Saying the pact should lead by example on this topic, he also claimed more PPBM politicians would do declare their assets once they are earmarked to contest elections.

Despite this, he also expressed misgivings about how the public might interpret a politician’s wealth, particularly those who may already be millionaires.

“When you declare, but other opponents don't do it, it puts you at an disadvantage. It puts people who are already wealthy before they join politics at a disadvantage as it shows as though they are already corrupt. People will compare a person's wealth,” he said.

“And once you declare the source of wealth and you're the richest person in the party, divisional and branch will start asking for funding; you will become a cash-cow, and the political struggle will be a money-driven one.”

The young politician said the best way forward would be to enact laws that made asset declarations mandatory for all election candidates.

DAP's Charles Santiago echoed the PPBM leader's remarks, and extended the concerns to one of security, saying it could expose affluent leaders and their families to those who may target them for their wealth.

The same concern was cited by Barisan Nasional’s Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor in 2016 to reject calls for him to declare his assets.

“There is a fear of making it (one’s wealth) public, a security fear that you can be hounded and people can come after you, it can be twisted by people, to make it into an issue,” Santiago said.

“Suddenly you do the right thing, but you look stupid and it works against you in the long run,” he told Malay Mail Online.

Santiago said high-ranking government officials should be the ones made to declare their assets because they are the ones handling million-ringgit projects and deals.

DAP has said there is currently no policy for all its elected representatives to declare their assets and that such declarations by those in government positions were sufficient.

Declaring assets part of PH manifesto

The PH leaders’ comments came after 30 Opposition leaders signed a pledge with big data outfit INVOKE and publicly declared their assets on Sunday. Of the 30, 20 were from PKR, nine from Amanah, and one from PAS.

Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah told Malay Mail Online he believed asset declarations could be implemented promptly, pointing out that it was already part of PH's “Anti-Corruption Manifesto.”

“But it has to be decided at the presidential council,” he said, adding that the details were not finalised.

Saifuddin then explained that PH discusses and releases its manifesto in stages, and that the section on political and institutional reforms has yet to be fully explored.

“I guess this topic will be brought up when we discuss the 'Political and Institutional Reform' part of the PH manifesto in the coming or next presidential council meeting,” he said.

Saifuddin said he would publicly declare his assets if chosen to contest in GE14.

“Politicians should understand the meaning, aim and objectives, and the mechanism of asset declaration. There is really nothing to be afraid of. I believe it can be done today.”

The issue of declaring assets is not entirely new, with groups such as the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) previously saying that the matter should be mandatory for politicians, and that ministers and members of Parliament should be legally required to declare their assets to a special committee in Parliament and be cross-checked by various agencies.