FEBRUARY 12 — Unexplained wealth is a concept I have explained thrice in as many years. Read it here, here and here.

And only last month I called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to consider enacting legislation on unexplained wealth order (UWO).

UWO is a tool which can be used to require a respondent to explain how an asset was acquired. It imposes a duty on the respondent to provide an adequate explanation for the acquisition of the asset.

Stock information boards are pictured in Kuala Lumpur on July 5, 2018. — Picture by Zuraneeza Zulkifli
Stock information boards are pictured in Kuala Lumpur on July 5, 2018. — Picture by Zuraneeza Zulkifli

So, a public officer will not only be required to declare the acquisition of an asset but also how the asset was acquired.

Does he or she have the means to acquire the asset? UWO can verify.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.