PAS has welcomed efforts by the MACC to introduce a new law making it mandatory for civil servants of grade Jusa C and above to declare their assets.

Deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said his party will support any legislation aimed at curbing corruption, but added that the sources of these assets should also be investigated.

He also stressed that assets obtained through permissible means rightfully belong to its owner, subject to the payment of zakat (tithe) for the needy.

"In Islam wealth does not need to be publicly declared. On the other hand, in Islam, the sources of wealth and how it has been spent should be investigated," he told Malaysiakini.

"A declaration of assets without investigating its sources will not meet the aim of combating corruption.

"For example, there have been leaders who declared assets amounting to a few hundred million ringgit. Were there no investigations launched?"

MACC deputy commissioner Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil was reported as saying yesterday that the new asset declaration law is expected to be tabled and enforced by the end of the year.

He added that the commission is preparing the new legislation – which provides for a fine or jail sentence upon failure to disclose assets – before it proceeds to the drafting stage for tabling in Parliament.

Commenting further, Tuan Ibrahim expressed his hope that the MACC's efforts will serve to raise the level of integrity among politicians and public servants.

At present, asset declarations by government MPs and members of the administration are done on a voluntary basis, and uploaded onto the MACC website for public viewing.