Ahmad Maslan: I was a 'victim' of unregulated political funding

 

Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan has voiced his support for the enactment of a political financing act, claiming the absence of clear regulations had eventually landed him in court.

Speaking as a panellist at an online forum hosted by Malay daily Sinar Harian last night, Ahmad recalled how BN as the then government had in 2009 initiated efforts to regulate political financing.

Engagement with stakeholders eventually led to the formation of the National Consultative Committee on Political Financing that in 2016 reportedly made 32 recommendations including for tabling of a Political Donations and Expenditure (PDEA) Bill.

"Why did I suddenly propose this again?

"I want to reintroduce it because I was a victim of an unregulated political donation," said Ahmad, a former deputy finance minister under former premier Najib Abdul Razak's administration.

He was referring to his two charges of money laundering for failing to declare RM2 million received from Najib to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and giving a false statement to the MACC.

As a result of being charged, Ahmad said he was left out of any positions in Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's administration.

Ahmad said 80 individuals and entities were issued compound notices by the anti-corruption commission in its bid to recover over RM420 million of 1MDB monies.

"Why did I become a victim? Why did the 80 people become victims?

"Because we do not have a political financing act. For example, one that says political parties cannot receive any foreign fundings," he said.

In terms of transparency, Ahmad said resistance to the existing draft law had come from opposition parties that raised concerns over how companies might be targeted for their donations.

To questions from political analyst Wong Chin Huat, who was the forum moderator, Ahmad said there are new issues related to political fundings which must be addressed, including donations raised to cover a politician's bail.

"There are a lot of details that must be studied. Some of these issues may appear trivial but it is actually important," he said.

Ideas chief executive officer Tricia Yeoh

'New considerations on foreign fundings'

Another panellist, public policy think-tank Ideas chief executive officer Tricia Yeoh, meanwhile said new considerations could be given on the issue of foreign funding for political parties.

In particular, she cited training being offered in areas that contributes to the overall strengthening of the parliamentary system and democracy.

"Is it not okay to receive that kind of training?" she said.

Both Yeoh and Ahmad also touched on various options of public fundings for political parties, as opposed to donations from government-linked corporations or private companies.

"Among benefits of public fundings include reducing reliance to donators with vested interests. We want to separate that conflict of interest," said Yeoh.

She said allocating public funds for political parties could also increase the participation of women and youths through a direct incentive.

Moving forward, Ahmad, who has been nominated for the position of Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, proposed for a special parliament committee to be set up and revive the existing draft law on political financing.

Also on the panel was Amanah strategic director Dzulkefly Ahmad, who said the issue of political fundings must be handled holistically to ultimately ensure a fair contest between government and opposition MPs.

The Kuala Selangor MP cited his experiences being the opposition and in 22-months as health minister under the Pakatan Harapan government until its collapse in February last year.

In October 2019, then law minister Liew Vui Keong - who has since passed away - said a Political Funding Bill would be tabled in Parliament in 2020, pending feedback and suggestions from the ministries. 

But the Pakatan Harapan government was ousted from power a few months later leaving the matter unresolved. - Mkini