Hadi: Asset declaration is a socialist-communist idea, PSM elated

PUCHONG: Asset declaration is a communist and socialist idea, claims PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Speaking to reporters in Marang today, Hadi also claimed that the recent move to compel MPs to declare their assets was due to DAP’s strong influence in the Pakatan Harapan government.
“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,” he said.
Last week, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man claimed that asset declaration was against Islam.
He said there was a Hadith, claiming Prophet Muhammad had said that when God has given one wealth, it should not be declared in the public as people may get envious.
However, Tuan Ibrahim’s argument received brickbats from various quarters, including Islamic scholars who said that the Hadith was not authentic.
Hadi, who is also Marang MP, said that based on Islamic perspective, asset declaration was not something carved on stone and it depends on the situation at hand.
For example, he said, if one owns wealth and was at risk of not paying taxes, then it was obligatory for the individual to declare his wealth.
“Asset declaration is a must for those who are corrupt. However, for those who just want to boast about their wealth, then asset declaration is forbidden.
“But if one is known not to possess any material wealth, then it is not necessary for the person to declare his wealth,” said the PAS president.

In an immediate response to Hadi’s statement, Parti Sosialis Malaysia central committee member S Arutchelvan said he was happy that Hadi himself said that good things come from the socialists.
He said that even Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in the past, had claimed that abolishing tolls was a socialist idea from Pakatan Harapan leaders.
“It looks like everything good comes from socialists. Hadi said that asset declaration is a socialist and communist idea.
“When we called for the abolishment of tolls, Mahathir then said that it was an idea by socialists from Pakatan. When we called for house prices to be reduced, developers said it was a socialist idea.
“Looks like all good things comes from us socialists. I didn’t say this. Hadi and Mahathir did,” said Arutchelvan.
By G Vinod