MPs group moots 'state funding' for political parties

State funding for political parties has been identified as an essential element that could put Malaysia in the ranks of advanced democracies around the world, according to Subang MP Wong Chen.

Wong, as chairperson of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Political Financing, said the proposal on state funding will be submitted to the government for consideration to be included in the draft Political Funding Bill.

"State funding is an essential element in democracy. It is being practised in almost all advanced democracies around the world.

"So, if we want Malaysia's standard to rise to an international level, our Parliament to function well, our government to be free of corruption, state funding is an essential element," Wong said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today with all of the group's members.

He cited Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said's written response on the progress of the proposed Political Finding Act, that the government will once again raise the matter for a new cabinet approval at the policy stage.

"We want to thank the government for giving an honest answer that it is at least looking at this matter.

"But we are also asking, when? If possible by year-end or in the March session next year," he said.

Wong Chen

Azalina in a written response to Khoo Phoay Tiong (Harapan-Kota Melaka) on Monday said that the draft Political Funding Bill will be proposed to be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for further input from all MPs.

The minister in charge of law and institutional reforms said engagements with MPs must continue, taking into consideration changes after the last 15th general election.

Meanwhile, Wong said the all-parties group currently led by Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh had existed since before GE15 but he was recently appointed as chairperson of the smaller group comprising eight other MPs, civil society organisations, and academicians focusing on political financing.

"My group has started our work. We had two meetings so far. We started our project to go down to the ground, and holding town hall meetings to meet the people.

"We need to explain why is it important to have state funding. I understand many people think politicians are rich, but that's not true.

"Without state funding, we will have all the Datuk Seri, Tan Sri, Tun making donations to political parties and that would be very detrimental to fighting corruption," he said.

Other members of the group include representatives from think-tank Ideas, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), Bersih, Rasuah Busters, and Transparency-International Malaysia. - Mkini