Anwar mocks Hadi for linking asset declaration to communism-socialism

PUCHONG: Amused by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s assertion that asset declaration was a communist and socialist idea, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the PAS leader to explain where he got the idea from.
“Hadi should to tell us which theory from the Das Kapital he was referring to,” Anwar told reporters yesterday.
Das Kapital is the book written by the father of communism, Karl Marx in the late 19th century.
Early yesterday, Hadi told reporters in Marang that asset declaration was an idea rooted in the communist and socialist ideology.
“In general, the idea to declare assets is a theory propagated by the communists and socialists. This recent move could have been influenced by DAP which is running the country now.
“The socialists claim they want to limit people’s wealth but sooner or later, these socialist countries turn liberal and its leaders become very rich,” Hadi was reported saying.
In a quick response, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) central committee member S Arutchelvan mocked Hadi, saying the socialist party was proud that the PAS supremo himself had declared that good ideas come from their ideology.
Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, said that during the reign of Umar Abdul Aziz, the eight Umayyad caliph, the Islamic leader recorded the assets belonging to his family to promote transparency.
“Declaring one’s assets ensures what is accumulated is legal. It shows there is no theft of land, timber, shares or projects.
“The idea applies to Umno, PKR, DAP and PAS. If you don’t want to declare… people will ask why PAS is worried.
“Will it reveal too much wealth? Land? Timber? Shares?” asked Anwar.
The PKR leader also questioned why PAS was so worried about asset declaration as the Islamist party was in support of transparency and anti-corruption in the past.
“In Parliament, they have been talking about transparency and anti-graft measures.
“However, now they are afraid of declaring asset, citing communists as an excuse,” said Anwar.