The Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Lim Guan Eng, was a trailblazer today when he got the auditing firm of KPMG to audit and declare his assets and all Penang's state executive officers.

The two important dates regarding their assets are before and after taking office in Penang.

The clearest signal that everything is transparent in personal assets is by declaring them to the public via newspapers and internet.

Hopefully, the PM, DPM, chief ministers of Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak, federal ministers and deputy ministers, executive officers of all the states from Perlis to Johore and to Sabah and Sarawak, will follow suit.

Note that it is not enough to declare assets to the PM, CM or MB, they must be revealed to all Malaysians through newspapers and Internet news portals like Malaysiakini, Malaysian Insider, Malaysia Today.

The most corrupted are often the presidents and prime ministers as we have heard and seen in several countries.

So, it is mere shadow play if downliners report their assets to their heads.

What about the heads? To whom do they declare their assets? To God? To priests?

No, that not good enough, even if they swear before God or priests. Let the whole world know.

Note that when we were born, we came out from the womb naked. we came with nothing.

So, when you die, you leave the world with nothing as well.

One Greek philosopher said that he wanted his casket to be open; and his two hands outside it. He wanted the whole world to know that he was not taking any coins in his hands to the next world.

Neither was he taking anything inside the casket. All could look into the open casket.

Death is a good leveller; great men and women, rich and poor people, all leave the world with nothing.

So, what does it benefit a man if he owns the whole world but loses his soul?

But, many politicians sell their souls for some silver coins; they may even sell their mothers or daughters for position.

So, can a bill be passed in Parliament that any winning candidate, who jumps ship, must vacate his or her seat.

Similarly, every CM or MB should also pass a similar bill in the State Legislative Assembly.. This is the truest test of integrity.

Does the PM, CM or MB pass this test of honesty?If you are unwilling to pass this sort of bill of integrity, then I cannot trust you.

In the meantime, declare your assets before and after you took office. Declare your audited assets to all Malaysians. If you don't, then you have something to hide. Again, you will lose my trust.

To go further, check all the assets of past prime ministers, chief ministers, menteri besar, and excos. No doubt this is an arduous task; but it can be done, if you have the will and honesty to do it.

Honesty is the best policy: remember that you cannot take even a dime to the next world. Keep a clear conscience. Make peace with God.