MEMORANDUMS of understanding (MOUs) could become the new norm in paving the way for reforms, said Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann.
Fann said that this was achievable especially when ruling parties were not in a dominant position as they could be persuaded to concede and accede to reforms.
“Let’s say UMNO or BN comes to power in the next general election and they are not in a dominant position … in fact, their position can be similar to what it is right now,” Free Malaysia Today quoted him as saying at a conference on political financing organised by IDEAS and the Malaysian Bar Council.
“Then we have to start looking at MOUs or confidence and supply agreements as a new norm for politics in this country.”
According to Fann, ruling parties may have to negotiate with opposition parties through these MOUs or confidence and supply agreements to remain in power and form a stable and functioning government.
“In such a situation, even a party like UMNO could be persuaded to concede and accede to this particular funding reform,” he remarked.
Fann was referring to Bersih’s earlier recommendation for public funding to be based on voter-share with a minimum of 2% threshold.
The recommendation was part of three recommendations that were published in a commissioned report by Bersih in 2021. – June 23, 2022
