KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — Barisan Nasional (BN) ministers and chief ministers should open up their books to the public instead of just the prime minister, Lim Guan Eng said, insisting this was the more effective way of proving transparency in the government.

Lim, who was responding today to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, said the failure of BN leaders to publicly declare their assets leaves the impression that they have something to hide.

“Khairy’s claim that BN leaders have already declared their assets by making such asset declaration to the prime minister and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is such a sham perversion of the concept of public declaration of assets, and is contrary to internationally accepted anti-corruption practices,” the DAP secretary-general said in a statement here.

“Failing to make public declaration of assets is akin to failure to establish integrity in leadership by blocking public accountability, transparency and scrutiny,” he added.

Earlier this week, Khairy, who is youth and sports minister, said there was no need for him and his colleagues to declare their wealth to the public as they have already done so the prime minister and the MACC.

“Before I took the oath as a minister, I declared my assets too. Every Member of Parliament also must declare his/her assets.

“So the issue (to declare assets) does not arise. We may not declare it to the public, but we do it,” he was quoted saying in Bernama in response to BN’s Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s proposal that all past and present Cabinet ministers publicly declare their assets and liabilities.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, cited his administration as an example, noting that all government leaders his rule have opened their accounts to the public and periodically update them.

“Would any BN minister dare to ask the people whether the rakyat opposed public declaration of assets?

“The public’s demand call for transparency and public accountability has become more urgent following revelation of the lavish lifestyle of the family members of top BN leaders from the Prime Minister, Ministers right down to the Chief Ministers with luxury apartments in developed western countries,” the DAP leader said.

He added that a public declaration of assets by BN leaders would also help prove that they too feel the financial burdens of Malaysians, who are bracing themselves to face additional expenses once the Goods and Services Tax comes into effect next month.