A MOTION requiring members of parliament to declare their assets will be legally binding and those who fail to comply can be sanctioned by the Dewan Rakyat speaker, said de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong.

He is set to table a motion requiring all MPs, including the opposition, to declare their assets when the Dewan Rakyat convenes for its second sitting on Monday.

“The speaker will decide if the motion will be allowed, and if so, it will be open for debate.

“After that, the MPs will vote on it. If the motion is passed, it takes effect immediately.

“A time period will be set for MPs to declare their assets.

“Any non-compliance will be subject to sanction by the speaker,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Standing Orders are rules under which the Dewan Rakyat regulates its proceedings. It also provides for disciplinary action for errant members.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday said the motion would be tabled to ensure that lawmakers would not abuse their positions to enrich themselves.

This will mark the first time such a motion is proposed.

Currently, lawmakers are not compelled to declare their assets, although members of the administration have been urged to do so.

The list of those who have declared is at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission website.

Yesterday, National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre director-general Abu Kassim Mohamed said all government MPs had declared their assets.

Universiti Malaya’s former law professor Gurdial Singh Nijar said the motion can be legally binding, even if is not passed as an act of Parliament.

“Subject to parliamentary action if (there is failure) to abide by a resolution of Parliament. If passed as an act of Parliament, then (it is) subject to the provisions of that law.

“Parliament can enforce its rulings through its own rules and Standing Orders.”

Kota Baru MP Takiyuddin Hassan, however, said he do not think such a motion will be legally binding.

He said the government could have amended the act governing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to add provisions compelling lawmakers to make such disclosures.

However, the PAS secretary-general said MPs from the Islamist party have no objections to declaring their assets, adding that they are not wealthy.

“To PAS MPs, there is no problem, as we have no assets. None of our MPs have a lot of assets.”

However, he asked if the family members and relatives of MPs will be required to make such declarations.

Takiyuddin said family members should be included as some parliamentarians have kin who manage their businesses.

Public Accounts Committee chairman and Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad said the motion serves to ensure better transparency.

She said she has declared her assets but to the prime minister.

“I have no problems doing so again.” – June 29, 2019.