THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) cannot investigate the assets of MPs unless there has been a legitimate complaint lodged against them, said Latheefa Koya.

The MACC chief commissioner said the body currently acts as a depository of declared assets, minus liabilities of federal lawmakers.

“You must understand (that) the concept of the asset declaration is not for us to carry out an investigation,” Latheefa told reporters after speaking at an anti-graft forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

“But if someone else says, wait a minute, we look at so-and-so MP, and the assets don’t match the person’s lifestyle. We would like an investigation because we believe he is involved in such and such. We’re not saying give us proof per se, but there must be a complaint.”

Latheefa, who did not name any lawmakers, was asked on Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi’s recent declaration that he has only RM8,000 in assets, despite his wife owning a home.

“The problem is that it is quite sensational to touch a politically exposed person. To say this person is this, this person is that. If there is anything suspicious then we will definitely investigate.

“I don’t have the minute details (but) we have been addressing complaints. There must be basis for investigations.

“The ministers have declared but we need to see the comparison in what they earned prior to this and when they declare, did they actually declare their liabilities.”

Latheefa said Parliament required asset declaration to help track any sudden increases in wealth of lawmakers. She added that some MPs have declared assets but did not account for their liabilities. She did not say who.

“From year to year they have to declare. Say in the middle of year, if they have an uncle or somebody who passed away and passed on a big fortune, they need to declare.

“You don’t say after you’re caught and charged that you got a donation. That’s not what asset declaration is about.”

Latheefa said in the near future, Malaysia may adopt laws against what she called “overwealth”, which is wealth that does not match the income of lawmakers.

“That has been introduced in India, Hong Kong and other places. We hope that this is the next step.

“All these do not stem out of a vacuum. As you watch the cases that are ongoing, you see the necessity for these to be put in place to prevent large scale offences,“ she added. – December 12, 2019.