Bipartisan Mps Ngos Renew Push For Political Financing Law

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Lawmakers from both the government and opposition, along with NGOs, have formed a parliamentary group to renew the push for a political financing law.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Political Financing said there has been little progress on political financing reforms in the last two years, something they hope to speed up.
"We believe that political financing reform is a fundamental pillar in transforming Malaysian politics.
"It is a key step in the fight against corruption and preventing the misuse of public funds.
"Furthermore, transparency is also needed to remove private sector influence over politics," the group said in a statement today.
The group's formation was approved by the Dewan Rakyat secretariat yesterday.
Its chairperson is Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Perikatan Nasional-Pasir Mas), with Fahmi Fadzil (Pakatan Harapan-Lembah Pantai) serving as deputy chairperson, Wong Shu Qi (Harapan-Kluang) as secretary, and Wilfred Madius Tangau (Harapan-Tuaran) as treasurer.
Other MPs include Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota), Mukhriz Mahathir (Pejuang-Jerlun), Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), and Larry Sng (Parti Bangsa Malaysia-Julau).
They are joined by Senator Fadhlina Sidek (PKR), nine civil society groups namely Ideas, Agora Society, Bait Al-Amanah, C4, Engage Network, G25, Bersih, Rasuah Busters, and Transparency International-Malaysia, and two experts - Maha Balakrishnan, and Wong Chin Huat.
Last draft during Harapan govt
The group noted that efforts to push for a political financing act stretch back to 2005, with the last effort being a bill drafted by the Harapan government. That bill was never tabled in Parliament.
The APPG on Political Financing, in their statement, called on de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to give an update on the Political Financing Bill and to give them a copy of the draft in its current form.
This is so they can review the bill and make recommendations for improvements.
The group also reminded the government that tabling a political financing act was a priority under the mid-term review of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP).
The plan states December 2022 as the milestone to study new legislation on political funding.
"Furthermore, the public deserves to know the government’s commitment to improving transparency and accountability in our political system.
"This is especially important as the country heads towards its 15th general election," they said. - Mkini

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