KUALA LUMPUR: Former Barisan Nasional (BN) component party Gerakan has offered to help Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on his recent proposal to draft a new law on political financing.
The party had said it had previously conducted studies, comparing means of regulation of political funding implementation among countries such as the United States and United Kingdom.
“Among the proposals are to limit the amount of donation contributed by one organisation so that it would not create a negative perception that the organisation could control the decision-making process of a political party,” said Gerakan deputy youth chief Andy Yong on his social media account.
He added that Gerakan had also previously supported the preliminary findings of the National Consultative Committee on Political Funding back in 2015 that was announced by the then Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low, who was also the chairman, among others, proposing a ban on all political donations from foreign parties and sources.
Being part of Gerakan Political Funding Taskforce, they had in a memorandum submitted to the committee, stressed on the importance of preventing foreigners residing in Malaysia or overseas, from funding political parties.
“We also supported to ban all government-linked companies from making direct contribution to political parties in the country. It is important to ensure that government-linked companies, being arms of the government, stay above the political process. I hope the current government can speed up the process as there are plenty of other important issues to be discussed,” Yong said.
Dr Mahathir had said that the government will formulate a law with regards to the financing of political parties, in which favours will not be given to donors.
The law, he added, once decided and approved, will be tabled in Parliament.
“As the Prime Minister provided no timeframe on when the bill will be tabled, I hope such proposal by the Prime Minister will be given priority and done in the best interest of transparency,” he added.
Get the latest World Cup 2018 scores, highlights and updates from our dedicated news page. CLICK HERE