'If I declare my assets to the public, my family might get kidnapped' - Ku Nan

This was the response of Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor when asked about the challenge by Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) communication director Fahmi Fadzil for him and KL Mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin to declare their assets to the public.

Tengku Adnan said he was a businessman before becoming a politician and therefore has a lot of assets.

"I will not declare my assets to the public. I will only do what is needed of me, that is to declare to the Prime Minister.

"That boy from PKR who asked me to declare my assets must not be right in the head. Every year, it is government policy for me to declare my assets to the Prime Minister with the rest of the Cabinet ministers. As for the Mayor, he is required to declare his assets to the Chief Secretary to the Government," he said.

Tengku Adnan, who was met after the launching of the 10th National Defence Medical Centre (NDMC) Worldwide Alumni Convention here today, said every ministry has an integrity unit that handles issues pertaining to assets declaration.

Fahmi had, last Friday, called for Tengku Adnan and Mhd Amin to publicly declare their assets as a way to lead by example for other government leaders and civil servants.

Meanwhile, in a subsequent statement released today, Fahmi said the response given by the FT Minister about his family's safety was not satisfactory, from the viewpoint of democracy and good governance.

He said the system of civil servants declaring their assets only to their respective superiors was clearly flawed, seeing how it has failed to prevent some individuals from acquiring large amount of assets via corruption, as alleged by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission last week.

"In the context of Kuala Lumpur, Tengku Adnan needs to remember that taxpayers don't have a say in the selection of the Mayor and City Hall's board of advisers. Therefore, check and balance towards those who have executive decision-making powers, including the FT Minister, need to be placed at a higher level than where it is now, including declaring their assets to the public.