A MEMORANDUM on the proposed political funding Bill is expected to be presented during a Cabinet meeting next month to enable the Bill to be tabled during the next Parliament sitting in October.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said a discussion on matters related to the Bill was held on Friday (Aug 12) with the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) and Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
The discussion also saw the involvement of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Registrar of Societies (RoS), Companies Commission of Malaysia and the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) under the Prime Minister’s Department.
“Among the important policy matters discussed were the establishment of an entity to regulate political funding, authorised contributors and penalties for offences under this law,” he said in a statement yesterday (Aug 13).
Wan Junaidi added that he instructed the GIACC to refine these policy matters and asked the BHEUU and AGC to prepare an administrative draft of the Bill by taking into account inputs from civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Besides that, a comparative analysis of the use of similar laws in other countries must be carried out to set a benchmark for the proposed legislation, Wan Junaidi said, suggesting further that it be aligned with existing laws under the RoS and SSM.
Wan Junaidi also called for the draft of the Bill to be prepared as soon as possible to enable engagement sessions to be held with all stakeholders according to a proposed timeline, to be decided by the GIACC.
“To show transparency and accountability in political governance, it is pertinent that this law is implemented immediately,” he said. — Aug 14, 2022
Main photo credit: Malay Mail
