MALAYSIA
New Straits Times-July 12
The government will be tabling a new law on political funding in parliament in order to curb corruption and lobbying.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said: “We don’t want members and supporters of political parties to give the money with the hope of expecting something in return. That amounts to corruption.”
He said political funding is necessary, as elections cost money, but where is the money coming from?
“Obviously, the members and supporters will provide money for the election. It is the supporters’ rights and they will give in the hope that if the party wins, they will be favoured. That amounts to corruption,” Dr Mahathir explained.
He said this at a press conference after chairing the second select committee meeting of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) here today.
The committee is the custodian of information on assets declared by ministers, deputy ministers, political secretaries and top government officials.
The center is headed by Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who is former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.
The Prime Minister said the government is looking into the practises of other countries such as Germany as an example on how they manage political funding.
Giving another example, he said in the United States, there is a lobbying system with groups using money to exert influence over the government.
“That is corruption. We will not allow that in Malaysia,” he added, stating that the government will formulate a law with regards to the financing of political parties, in which favors will not be given to donors.
The Prime Minister said the law, once decided and approved, will be tabled in the Parliament.
