Even though it should be a requirement, plenty of politicians refuse to declare their assets as doing so would mean total financial transparency and accountability.
However, there are a couple that have gone against the grain and have done so to show their voters exactly how much they earn, what assets they have and how much they spend.
One shining example of this notable practice are by members of the political party Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM). Recently, PSM’s DUN candidate for the Ayer Kuning seat in Perak made headlines when she declared her wealth to the public.
In a statement released by Sosialis, Bawani KS who is the PSM DUN candidate Ayer Kuning revealed that her total net asset value as of November 1, 2022 is estimated at RM992.50 which drew praise from fellow Malaysians.
Bawani who is a lawyer and partner at a law firm in Perak shared documents on how much she earns, how much she spends as well as the value of the assets she holds.
She earns RM5,000 per month, has RM12,189.41 in her EPF account and spends RM3,300 per month.
PSM started the practice back in 1999 when the party was not even registered yet at that time when their Chairperson Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj competed for the Sungai Siput seat.
Super relatable for the rakyat!
News about Bawani’s asset declaration made rounds on social media as netizens praised her for being super relatable to the woes of Malaysians.
“These are the kind of people that needs to be given a chance to win. They should be able to relate well with the daily struggles of common people.”
Another commented, “She is representing the voice of the people, the real struggle of youths today.”
“So rare to find a candidate that’s representative of the everyday people,” commented another user.
Do you also feel that she’s super relatable based on her declaration of assets?
Also read: PKR MP Declares His Assets, Urges Others to Declare & Voters to Reject Those Who Fail to Do So