Zaid: Umno leaders opposed disclosure

By Deborah Loh, The Nut Graph

Senior Umno leaders shot down efforts last year to get ministers to publicly declare their assets and income, former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim revealed today.

Zaid, who was sacked from Umno and joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on 13 June, blamed Umno leaders for scuttling then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's intentions for all ministers to declare their assets.

"I still remember when Pak Lah suggested that ministers declare their assets and income. I suggested to Pak Lah that the declaration forms should be simplified like the ones used by the Australian government so that they are not difficult to fill.

"But it was never implemented because of objections by senior Umno leaders," Zaid said in his blog posting Kepada Adnan Yaakob dan rakan-rakan.

Zaid was responding to Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, the Pahang Menteri Besar, who called him "a wolf in sheep's clothing" for joining PKR.

Zaid resigned as a minister on 15 Sept 2008 over the government's use of the Internal Security Act and was sacked from Umno on 2 Dec 2008 after 23 years as a member.

In his blog, Zaid said leaders like Adnan were quick to label those who wanted to bring reforms as "enemies of Umno".

Abolish the OSA

Zaid took issue with his detractors whom he said called him a rich man who was made rich by Umno.

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