KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — A senior Umno MP today supported the call by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for all Cabinet members and federal lawmakers to declare their assets and liabilities, saying it should be made a regular practice among elected representatives.

Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said it becomes the responsibility of elected representatives to declare not only their assets and interests, but also whatever benefit received in public office.

“I agree completely. While we are asking for higher allowances, then we must also increase the responsibilities of MPs,” he said when met at the Barisan Nasional backbenchers club (BNBBC) office.

Earlier today when debating the Royal Address in Parliament, Tengku Razaleigh urged all past and current federal ministers and MPs to declare their assets and liabilities to answer claims of conflicts of interest involving public figures.

He said it becomes the responsibility of those in power and their predecessors to clear the air on all their dealings, especially since they took an oath to serve the people.

Shahrir today noted that benefits such as sponsored overseas travel should also be declared, as is the practice in the US and UK, to make sure that MPs do not abuse their position for personal gain.

“Say a company tells me, ‘Shahrir, come let’s go to UK’. I must, as an MP, declare that I had gone on that trip and for what purpose.

“Who’s to say that you are not speaking for some foreign country if you are invited by foreign government or organisations to go overseas? You must remember you were extended the invitation in your capacity as an MP,” he said.

The former minister noted, however, that it is not necessary for Parliament to set up a new body to manage declarations of assets and liabilities by MPs – as suggested by the Gua Musang MP – insisting that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is sufficient.

“We can declare to the MACC and they can seal it away. I don’t think Tengku Razaleigh was asking for a public declaration,” he said, adding that the anti-graft body can be empowered to be more independent in managing such declarations.