TRANSPARENCY International Malaysia (TI-M) has welcomed the Malaysian Government and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) acknowledgement of the recent drop in the country’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score as well as the recent calls on the country to work together to fight corruption and improve the CPI ranking and score.
“However, such calls and commitments must be followed through with action, particularly from lawmakers as there are many gaps in the legal framework which enable various forms of corruption to seep into the operations and administration of the country,” it said.
“In recent years, as part of these efforts and since the last election, TI-M, along with many other groups have consistently urged lawmakers to enact two particular key laws, namely an anti-party hopping bill as well as a political financing bill.”
While the former is specifically targeted to prevent instability of state and Federal Government as well as a waste of national resources, the latter is to prevent bribery, kickbacks and the siphoning of public funds via political donations.
“Since the last general election, Malaysia has witnessed three changes in the composition of Federal Government, and snap polls in three different states due to party hopping, with the possibility of more underway, and numerous stories in the media of big-ticket corruption involved in party hopping,” said TI-M.
“Most of this drama has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when the rakyat have been told to withdraw their Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) savings to make ends meet.”
According to TI-M, various politicians have spoken about their disdain for political frogs, the necessity for an anti-party hopping law and the need to regulate political financing, most recently during the negotiations for the Confidence Supply Agreement between the Opposition bloc and the Prime Minister.
The MACC had most recently also expressed their support for a political financing act due to the difficulty in building a clear case of corruption arising from political donations despite numerous reports received.
This is perceived to be due to the lack of regulation over donations made purportedly to political parties and involving their election machinery.
“Yet as we approach the next state election triggered by changing allegiances, we see little effort from the government to implement the legislation that they have so enthusiastically mooted for,” the non-governmental organisation (NGO) said.
“TI-M urges lawmakers from across the divide to support and expedite the process of enacting and implementing robust and stringent anti-party hopping and political financing.
Bills that are clear in their definitions and help to return the power to the hands of the people while giving teeth to law enforcement to curb these forms of corruption.
“TI-M also calls on our fellow rakyat to take stock of our elected representatives who oppose, delay or water down the implementation of these legislations to escape scrutiny.
“The commitment to reform cannot simply be a rhetoric; the people are watching and will punish politicians who give empty promises in the elections.” – Feb 11, 2022
