BATU PAHAT: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) has dismissed the asset declaration by candidates contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15) as just a “political gimmick”.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president said there was a proper way to declare one’s assets.
“I have done so when I was a minister and prime minister or holding public office.
“You have to declare your assets then but when you are a private entity, you do not have to.
“Will the Malaysian Anti Corruption Com-mission [MACC] check it or has [PKR president)]Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared it to the anti-graft body?
“As a minister, it is compulsory but other than that, it is just a political gimmick trying to claim that the candidate is poor and voters should vote for the person,” he said after attending a gathering with Perikatan’s machinery at Dewan Terbuka Taman Sri Penggaram here yesterday.
He said this following the declaration submitted by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli which listed RM18.85mil in assets.
Rafizi had said that the declaration of assets by each PKR candidate in GE15 was to set a higher standard for future elections.
Earlier in his speech, Muhyiddin described his time with Pakatan Harapan as his most jahilliyyah (ignorant) time in politics.
The incumbent Pagoh MP, who is seeking his eighth term in the GE15, said he was the Home Minister during Pakatan’s 22 months in power.
“When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister after 22 months, the country was in trouble and I had to save it.
“We left Pakatan, causing the government to fall. They called me a traitor. Let them be but I did not betray my race, religion or country,” he said.
He stated that despite forming the government, Pakatan could not afford to carry out its manifesto, adding that Dr Mahathir him- self had said that it was not a holy book.
“We also received tremendous pressure from DAP which wanted the government at the time to repel the Sedition Act.
“This Act protects the Malay Rulers, Islam as the country’s official religion as well as Malay rights and [the status of] Bahasa Melayu,” he said.
On Oct 31, Dr Mahathir claimed that Muhyiddin was the real traitor because he had gained the most from the Sheraton Move that toppled he Pakatan government.