Government Stalls on Political Financing Bill Amid Deadlock with Stakeholders
Key Details Remain Unresolved
The Malaysian government has hit a snag in its efforts to regulate political financing, with law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said confirming that key stakeholders have not yet reached an agreement on the proposed bill.
More Talks to Come
In a written parliamentary reply, Azalina revealed that the government will hold further discussions with political party leaders, as well as universities and other stakeholders, to gather more perspectives and ensure an inclusive decision-making process. This comes after eight engagement sessions were held with political parties, government agencies, and the parliamentary special select committee on human rights, elections, and institutional reform.
Disagreements Persist
Despite these discussions, fundamental issues remain unresolved, including the need for public funding for political parties, limits on donations, and the regulating body for political financing. Azalina’s statement was in response to questions raised by Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) and Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who sought an update on the bill’s status.
MACC’s Call for Expedited Action
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has recently called for the bill to be expedited, with an initial focus on regulating funding for election campaigns. However, it appears that the government is not ready to move forward at this stage.
Commitment to Transparency and Public Interest
Azalina emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that any new law on political financing is transparent, data-driven, and aligns with public interest. The minister’s statement suggests that the government is willing to take a more collaborative approach to address the ongoing challenges in the political financing landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the key issues that remain unresolved in the proposed political financing bill?
- Public funding for political parties, limits on donations, and the regulating body for political financing
- How many engagement sessions have been held to discuss the bill?
- Eight sessions with political parties, government agencies, and the parliamentary special select committee on human rights, elections, and institutional reform
- What is the next step in the process?
- Further talks with secretaries-general of all political parties, universities, and other stakeholders to gather more perspectives and ensure an inclusive decision-making process
- When can we expect the bill to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat?
- No specific timeline has been provided, but additional discussions are expected to take place before the bill is tabled.