Memo on political funding bill to be presented to cabinet

 

A memorandum on the proposed Political Funding Bill is set to be presented at a cabinet meeting next month. This is so the bill can be tabled at the next Parliament sitting in October.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the bill was discussed yesterday with the National Centre for Governance, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) and Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).

“Among the important policy matters discussed were: the establishment of an entity to regulate political funding, authorised contributors, and penalties for offences under this law,” he said in a statement today.

The discussion yesterday also involved the MACC, Registrar of Societies (RoS), Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), and the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Wan Junaidi (above) said he instructed the GIACC to refine the policy matters and asked the BHEUU and AGC to prepare an administrative draft of the bill by taking into account inputs from civil society and non-governmental organisations.

In addition, he said a comparative analysis of similar laws in other countries must be carried out to set a benchmark for the proposed legislation.

He also suggested that the proposed bill be aligned with existing laws under the RoS and SSM.

Wan Junaidi also called for the draft of the bill to be prepared as soon as possible to enable engagement sessions to be held with all stakeholders according to a timeline to be decided by the GIACC.

“To show transparency and accountability in political governance, it is pertinent that this law is implemented immediately,” he said.

- Bernama