KUALA LUMPUR: Data from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s asset declaration, made to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on March 7, 2019, has been misused by irresponsible parties, according to the Prime Minister’s political secretary.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi stated that this information was used to spread the baseless accusation that Anwar is “the 17th richest leader in the world”, suggesting that his wealth was obtained illegally. He emphasized that the asset declaration was part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s initiative at the time to ensure transparency among Cabinet members and Members of Parliament (MPs).

“This declaration did not raise any issues at the time because it was accompanied by a detailed explanation of how the assets were acquired. The majority of the asset value is based on current property estimates. These assets were acquired legally and can be proven through sale and purchase documents and legitimate financial records,” he elaborated i
n a statement today.

Ahmad Farhan highlighted that Anwar’s asset declaration of RM10.7 million was not unusual, as many PH Cabinet members and MPs had much higher asset values, including Datuk Dr R. Santhara Kumar (Segamat) with RM132.1 million and Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas) with RM77 million. Other notable declarations were by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Langkawi) with RM32.3 million, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun) (RM25.1 million), Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof (Alor Gajah, RM23 million), Senator Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad (RM15.3 million) and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh) (RM14.3 million).

“Logically, the accusation that Anwar is the 17th richest leader in the world is absurd. Compared to other leaders in Malaysia, Anwar’s asset value is not among the highest. How could he be listed as one of the world’s richest leaders? The spreading of these unfounded accusations is a classic example of defamation that can damage an individual’s credibility without legitimate p
roof. In Islam, slander is a grave sin,” he noted.

Ahmad Farhan further stated that spreading information without verifying its truth not only tarnishes an individual’s reputation but also erodes public trust in the political system and national institutions. He advocated for political maturity and warned against personal attacks and defamation, emphasizing that criticism should focus on policies rather than personal wealth.

“For example, if there are those who disagree with the economic policies introduced by the Prime Minister, it should be discussed factually and academically, not by creating false narratives about his personal wealth,” he said. He urged political party leaders, particularly those from Islamic parties, to lead by example in promoting mature politics.

Ahmad Farhan concluded by expressing that Anwar is committed to fostering good relations with state governments, including those under opposition administration. He warned that such efforts could be hindered by defamation and immature polit
ics, as effective cooperation between federal and state governments relies on trust.