Political funding bill to be completed by end-2020, says Abu Kassim

INTERVIEW | Putrajaya is giving itself until the end of 2020 to legislate the country's first political funding law, according to the Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC).

GIACC director-general Abu Kassim Mohamed said drafting the law was among the top priorities in the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), which is slated to be launched by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Jan 29.

"(According to the NACP), the maximum is two years, but we want to do it as soon as possible. 

"Based on the situation today, we have set it as one of the 22 focus areas in the NACP from a total of 115 initiatives.

"Before two years, we will complete the bill. It can be between the next six months and a year, depending on how fast we can complete engagement with all stakeholders," he told Malaysiakini in an interview on Monday.

Abu Kassim added, however, that GIACC is not going to rush the process, stressing that it is a very important law.

Basis of transparency

Abu Kassim, the former MACC chief commissioner, also touched on the issue of political governance, which he described as one of the most important aspects of combating corruption and ensuring integrity in the public sector.

The introduction of a law to regulate political financing has long been debated, with many quarters saying that it would put a stop to corrupt practices stemming from the lobbying of politicians.

Saying that he could not reveal very much as the draft political funding bill is still being worked on, Abu Kassim stressed that transparency is its underlying principle.

"There are many things in the draft, but the principle that we use is transparency. That is the most important.

"(For example) if a politician receives money, it must go into an account, and not his or her own pocket," he stressed.

"We do not want political funding being used as a means for anyone to get his hands on as many projects as he can, or becoming a proxy for others to get projects.

"That is why transparency is important. You have to declare what you get. Where you use the money, where you got it, who gave it to you. 

"If all these are made known, it can lower the chance of abuse of the system."

Abu Kassim also noted that GIACC has conducted many dialogue sessions with stakeholders in writing the bill, and that it is now in discussion with the Attorney-General's Chambers to finalise the draft. - Mkini