Law and Institutional Reform Minister to Meet with Political Parties to Discuss Political Funding Bill
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said has announced that the government will be meeting with the secretaries-general of political parties soon to discuss the Political Funding Bill and address key policy issues.
Current State of Political Donations in Malaysia
At present, there is no law regulating political donations in Malaysia. Existing provisions under the Election Offences Act 1954 (Act 5) only monitor election candidates’ expenses, not party funding. The Societies Act 1966 (Act 832) only requires political parties to submit financial statements to the Registrar of Societies.
Government’s Approach to Addressing the Issue
Azalina emphasized that the proposed political funding law is crucial to curb corruption and abuse of power among politicians, which will ultimately improve the image of the government and country. The government has held a series of meetings from 2023 to 2024, including one with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the finance ministry, to explore proposals on political donations and public funding for parties.
Consultations and Public Feedback
The government will seek views from opposition parties and institutions like universities, including a comprehensive study on party positions and public perspectives to ensure that any legislation truly reflects the needs of the people.
No Plans to Amend Constitutional Provisions
Azalina was responding to a question from Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna), who asked whether the government planned to amend the Federal Constitution to strengthen the anti-hopping law and introduce political financing regulations before the 16th general election. She said the government currently has no plans to amend constitutional provisions related to the anti-hopping law but remains open to further discussions with both ruling and opposition parties.
Conclusion
The proposed political funding law is a crucial step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in Malaysian politics. The government’s commitment to seeking public feedback and engaging with political parties is a positive step towards creating a more transparent and accountable system.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of political donations in Malaysia?
A: There is no law regulating political donations in Malaysia.
Q: What is the government’s approach to addressing the issue?
A: The government is proposing a political funding law to curb corruption and abuse of power among politicians, and is seeking public feedback and engaging with political parties to create a more transparent and accountable system.
Q: Will the government amend the Federal Constitution to strengthen the anti-hopping law and introduce political financing regulations?
A: The government currently has no plans to amend constitutional provisions related to the anti-hopping law, but remains open to further discussions with both ruling and opposition parties.