Ku Nan, leave public office if you don’t want to declare assets

Ku Nan: Public asset declaration makes family target for kidnapping, robbery

Tan Kim Keong: The only people in public office who do not want to disclose their assets are people with something to hide. These people will find requirement for public declaration of their assets disturbing for obvious reasons.

The threat of family members being kidnapped is merely an excuse.

Anonymous_3fe4: The world’s richest, including Malaysia’s, have their net worth reported all the time. I don’t see mass kidnapping of them or their family.

It is only those who have plenty to hide – and perhaps owning assets way, way above their means – that they are afraid to let public know how wealthy they are.

Simple Malaysian: As a publicly elected officer, you are compelled to be transparent about your assets. If you are not willing to do so, then withdraw from public life and you shall have your privacy.

Ku Nan is probably trying to tell the public that he has way too much to declare.

Anonymous_1371479577: If you are a private person, then you are entitled to your privacy. As an elected politician and/or public official, you should be subject to public scrutiny that comes with the job. That is a norm is most democratic countries.

Failure to disclose may not be illegal, but it does show something to hide.

Jaycee: Indeed, if you do not wish to declare your assets, leave public office.

Anonymous 2362021442199789: You declare your assets to MO1 (Malaysian Official 1) and MO1 declares his assets to you. That way, both of you have declared your assets.

Next, have the assets declarations classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Then have both these declarations buried mid-ocean, preferably in the Marianas Trench so that they cannot be exposed by potential whistleblowers.

Now both can sleep soundly with the firm belief that no potential robbers or kidnappers know how much each of you are worth.

Ib: The choice is simple. Resign from all public positions. Otherwise, what you are suggesting that you have great unexplained wealth.

The kidnappers are for the police to handle. Are you saying the police force is not trustworthy?

Anonymous_1408265047: I could not wait to send this article to my friends overseas. In the developed world, all politicians have to declare their assets.

Why do many of the country’s politicians go to great lengths to make themselves the laughing stock of the world? It would seem that being a moron is a requisite for being a government politician.

Tok Karut: I believe the scandals involving Umno have allowed or encouraged every hoodlum in whatever guise – the taxi driver, the ordinary tradespeople, everybody in the food chain – to try to trick the unsuspecting public into parting with whatever little money they may have as ordinary folks.

I used to believe – hey, that’s a Muslim fellow, his religion forbids him from having ill-gotten gains – but that has gone with the wind.

Unlike Dr M, Najib says he may do gardening rather than harass successor

Anonymous_4056: With RM2.6 billion in the bank, who doesn’t want to retire to do gardening and concentrate on one’s golfing skills?

We, the rakyat actually salute and praise and thank former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad for speaking out even in his old age. At this advance age, he should be left to enjoy his retirement. Certainly he can’t in view of the circumstances.

Mahathir has every right to make sure future prime ministers do not destroy what he has painstakingly built over the last 22 years.

Najib, if you step down, I’m sure Mahathir will go back to gardening.

Anonymous Hotplate: Why is Najib now attacking Mahathir on very occasion everywhere and in all states when he is up on stage. He talks nothing about the country except condemn Mahathir throughout his speech.

Who cares what he does after his retirement as he has billions to spend and can live happily. All we want is for him to quit from his posts

Anonymous_1416272691: I can’t believe that Najib is talking about harassing his successor. He should be praying that his successor doesn’t come knocking on his door to harass him.

Is Najib planning to migrate to the country where his son-in-law has set up shop? There are lots of gardening space there and with his wealth, I am sure he can afford to have more than just a garden.

Mushiro: If Najib dare to have a 60-minute dialogue with student leaders, why can’t he have a 60-minute debate with Mahathir? This will be the best, and most gentlemanly, way for Najib to put down Mahathir and clear himself.

Attacking Mahathir in a monologue using the government subservient media has not taken, and will not, take Najib anywhere.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.