'Nothing to hide': I’ve already declared assets, Anwar tells Mahathir
Published on: Saturday, May 13, 2023
By:
FMT, Rex Tan
Dr Mahathir Mohamad had challenged Anwar Ibrahim to declare the wealth he amassed during his tenure as deputy prime minister and finance minister.
Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he has already openly declared his assets and has “nothing to hide”.
This came after Dr Mahathir Mohamad called on him to declare the wealth he had amassed when he was a deputy prime minister and finance minister.
ADVERTISEMENT “My RM11 million declaration of total assets includes my house in Segambut.
“That is not a secret and is public knowledge,” Anwar said after an event here.
On Wednesday, PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung defended Anwar after Mahathir challenged the prime minister to declare his assets.
Lee said Anwar, as well as the party’s other candidates, had declared their assets in November last year, prior to the 15th general election (GE15).
ADVERTISEMENT According to PKR’s website, Anwar’s total net worth stood at RM11,178,667.80 prior to GE15, which included his house in Segambut Dalam, said to be valued at about RM9 million.
On Monday, Mahathir said Anwar had been accused of helping his cronies when he was in the Cabinet in the 1990s.
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Earlier, Anwar had called on Malay leaders and tycoons, whom he accused of amassing massive wealth over the years, to share their wealth with the Malay populace who they claimed to champion.
Anwar served as deputy prime minister, under Mahathir’s administration, from 1993 to 1998, and as finance minister from 1991 to 1998.
Mahathir recently filed a RM150 million libel suit against Anwar over the latter’s claims the former prime minister had enriched himself and his family.
Mahathir said the allegations had eroded his status as a statesman and former prime minister.
On a separate note, Anwar said he had ordered the authorities, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department, to investigate any party responsible for the country’s losses as a result of corruption.
He was commenting on a recent report by think tank EMIR Research, which found that Malaysia suffered an estimated loss of about RM4.5 trillion in the past 26 years due to corrupt practices and leakages.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the actual amount of losses could not be ascertained but reiterated the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.
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