Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has urged the government to introduce compulsory asset screening for all officers and ministers before they are appointed to senior or influential positions, arguing that stronger safeguards are needed to prevent abuse of power and corruption.
Dr Akmal said such a policy was long overdue, especially at a time when integrity concerns continued to surface within public institutions. He stressed that asset declarations and background checks should apply across the board, regardless of ministry, rank, or political affiliation, to ensure accountability at the highest levels of government.
He linked his call to the stark contrast between senior officials living in apparent luxury and ordinary members of the armed forces who continue to struggle financially. According to Dr Akmal, there were still active and retired military personnel who found it difficult to meet basic living needs while stationed in camps or after leaving service, with some forced to take on additional work simply to support their families. He said such realities underscored the moral responsibility of leaders to uphold transparency and fairness.
Dr Akmal argued that unchecked wealth accumulation among those in power eroded public trust and demoralised lower-ranking personnel who served the country with limited resources. He maintained that comprehensive asset screening prior to appointments would act as a preventive measure rather than a reactive one, helping to detect irregularities before individuals were entrusted with authority.
His comments followed recent developments in a high-profile corruption investigation involving an army procurement tender. Media reports cited by Dr Akmal detailed enforcement action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which conducted a search at a residence linked to the second wife of a former army chief in an East Coast state on January 10, 2026.
During the operation, MACC officers seized luxury assets estimated to be worth more than RM2.2 million. The items were reportedly discovered inside two suitcases believed to have been used to store the valuables. Among the seized assets were 23 Rolex watches of various models, with an estimated market value of around RM2 million. Investigators also confiscated jewellery worth approximately RM225,000, believed to belong to an individual suspected of acting as an accomplice.
Dr Akmal said cases such as this highlighted systemic weaknesses in oversight and reinforced the need for stricter vetting processes. He emphasised that asset screening should become a standard requirement before any official or minister was elevated to a critical post, adding that the government must send a clear signal that integrity was non-negotiable.
He concluded by urging authorities to act decisively, saying public confidence could only be restored if transparency measures were enforced consistently and without exception.
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