The enactment of a political financing law has been discussed at great lengths in the country. Still, its legislation has yet to see its day in Parliament despite its heavy push by anti-corruption advocates.
The progress Malaysia made was until last year when the federal administration under then-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob started drafting a bill to regulate political funding.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review tabled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim this morning, the Pakatan Harapan-led government aims to enact the new law before Malaysia goes into its next general election.
According to the review report, Putrajaya listed its plan to enact a political donation law to improve accountability and transparency in the country.
"A new legislation on political donation will be enacted to regulate any contribution made by individuals and special interest groups.
"This donation will not be confined to only during elections. The legislation will be governed by an independent body to ensure all political parties, politicians, election candidates, and political agents are accountable to the rule of law.
"This law will forbid funding from any foreign entity for the purpose of political activities and further improve the transparency in the political donation," it said.
The mid-term review report did not mention a specific date when Putrajaya plans to table the bill.
However, it was understood that all plans under the 12MP will have to be achieved by the end of the five-year plan in 2025.
Before GE16
Malaysiakini understands the government intends to enact the law before it calls for the 16th general election.
The current administration has until February 2028 before the current Parliament expires and is dissolved automatically.
Calls to regulate political financing have intensified in recent years due to the 1MDB saga, which saw former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak claiming that he had received an RM2.6 billion donation from Saudi Arabia.
Renewed calls were made for clear laws to regulate political financing following a slew of charges laid against Bersatu politicians for corruption recently.
A political financing law will, among others, require the disclosure of sources of funding, donations, and the amounts received by political parties and their politicians.
In August last year, the then All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political Financing and the think tank, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) revealed a draft bill on political financing.
However, the 14th Parliament was dissolved in October of the same year before the bill could be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. - Mkini
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