Wan Junaidi: Further engagements on draft for proposed Political Funding Bill needed

KUALA LUMPUR: While the draft for the proposed Political Funding Bill is ready, engagement with stakeholders is still needed, says Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department told the Dewan Rakyat that he had discussed with the Election Commission (EC) and the Attorney-General (AG) twice regarding the matter.

"At the moment, the draft is ready but we have yet to conduct the necessary engagements with all the stakeholders," he said in his winding up speech for his ministry under the 12th Malaysia Plan on Thursday (Oct 7).

Wan Junaidi said that there were a lot of implications involving the Bill and it must be studied thoroughly.

"I also did research on the topic of political donations in 2001 as part of my assignment in the United States, where many weaknesses were found in their law.

"The rich who use their own funding were not questioned while those who receive donations from private parties were regulated," he said, adding that Malaysia wanted to have a more comprehensive Bill that would fulfil the needs of all parties.

He added that based on the mid-term plan review of the National Anti Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023, which had been tabled to the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption (JKKMAR), Series 14 No 1 for the year 2021, which was also approved by the Cabinet on May 19, 2021, the government remains committed to continue with the initiative related to the laws to regulate political donations.

"The study to form the new bill at the moment is currently being done, which will focus on the regulation of political donations based on the principles of transparency and accountability.

"The Bill, which is currently being studied, will take into consideration all views to ensure that the implementation mechanism will be effective," said Wan Junaidi.

Based on the review of the NACP Review Report, the initiative to study the enactment of the new law had been given the timeframe between Jan 2021 and Dec 2022, he said.

"If it is found appropriate after taking into account stakeholders' views, it will be brought to the JKKMAR and the Cabinet, subject to the policy of the current government," he said.