PETALING JAYA: The All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM) on political financing has raised questions about the status of the Political Financing Bill that was supposed to have been tabled two years ago.
The matter was raised during the group’s second meeting yesterday with several civil society groups including the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), the Malaysian Bar Council, anti-corruption group Rasuah Busters and the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).
“During the meeting, all the members questioned the status of the Political Financing Bill.
“So far, there have been no updates regarding this bill, and neither civil society nor the MPs and senators have access to it. The lack of transparency and engagement does not bode well for the advancement of institutional reforms in Malaysia,” the group said in a statement today.
The APPGM members also agreed on several key principles of political financing such as transparency and accountability, banning foreign funds, fixing caps on donations made by companies and individuals, and banning government-linked companies and other groups with vested interests from making political donations.
The parliamentary group also hopes to meet law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar soon to share its ongoing efforts for a political financing law to be enacted and to obtain his support for the tabling of the bill.
“APPGM hopes to secure the support from all MPs across the political divide to prioritise transparent political financing as a bedrock of a healthy, mature and vibrant democracy,” the group added.
The group comprises nine members, chaired by Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari. Its members are Fahmi Fadzil (PKR-Lembah Pantai), Wong Shu Qi (DAP-Kluang), Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko-Tuaran), Saifuddin Abdullah (Bersatu-Indera Mahkota), Mukhriz Mahathir (Pejuang-Jerlun), Ahmad Maslan (Umno-Pontian), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), and Larry Soon (PBM-Julau). - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.