Kuala Lumpur, 12 May 2022: The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political Financing Malaysia (APPG) met for the second time in Parliament yesterday. The focus of the meeting was to understand the overall landscape of political financing reforms and to strategise the next steps moving forward.

The MP members who attended the meeting were:

1.     YB Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Chairperson)

2.     YB Ahmad Fahmi Fadzil (Deputy Chairperson)

3.     YB Wong Shu Qi (Secretary)

4.     YB Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau (Treasurer)

5.     YB Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman

6.     YB Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mukhriz bin Tun Mahathir

The civil society members who attended the meeting were:

1.     Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) (Secretariat)

2.     Agora Society

3.     Bait Al-Amanah

4.     Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)

5.     Malaysian Bar Council

6.     Rasuah Busters

7.     Maha Balakrishnan (individual expert)

During the meeting, all members questioned the status of the Political Financing Bill that was drafted and due to be tabled in early 2020. So far, there have been no updates regarding this Bill, and neither civil society nor MPs and Senators have had access to it. This lack of transparency and engagement does not bode well for the advancement of institutional reforms in Malaysia.

The APPG members also agreed on several key principles of political financing such as transparency and accountability, banning foreign funding, placing caps on the amount individuals and corporations can donate and prohibiting donations from Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) and other organisations with conflict of interest. 

Lastly, the APPG hopes to engage with the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs in the near future to share our ongoing efforts for a law on political financing and to obtain support for the tabling of the Bill. The APPG hopes to secure support from all MPs across the political divide to prioritise transparent political financing as a bedrock of a healthy, mature and vibrant democracy.

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About the APPGM on Political Financing

The APPGM on Political Financing was approved by the Dewan Rakyat on 20 April 2022. The main objective of the APPGM is to establish a platform where MPs, Senators and CSOs can deliberate and discuss the importance of political financing reforms in Malaysia.

APPGM on political financing members

Members of Parliament

1.     YB Tuan Ahmad Fadhli bin Saari (PAS – Pasir Mas)

              Chairman

2.     YB Tuan Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzil (PKR – Lembah Pantai)

              Deputy Chairman

3.     YB Puan Wong Shu Qi (DAP – Kluang)

              Secretary

4.     YB Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO – Tuaran)

              Treasurer

5.     YB Dato’ Sri Saifuddin bin Abdullah (PPBM – Indera Mahkota)

6.     YB Dato’ Seri Utama Mukhriz bin Tun Dr. Mahathir (Pejuang – Jerlun)

7.     YB Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad bin Haji Maslan (UMNO – Pontian)

8.     YB Tuan Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA – Muar)

9.     YB Tuan Larry Soon@Larry Sng Wei Shien (Parti Bangsa Malaysia – Julau)

Senator

YB Puan Fadhlina binti Dato’ Sidek, Pulau Pinang (PKR)

CSO Members

1.     Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) (Secretariat)

2.     Agora Society

3.     Bait Al-Amanah

4.     Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)

5.     Engage Network

6.     G25 Malaysia

7.     Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH)

8.     Rasuah Busters

9.     Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M)

10. Puan Maha Balakrishnan (Expert)

11. Prof. Wong Chin Huat (Expert)

Download Media Statement PDF File Here

For enquiries, please contact:
Aira Azhari, Senior Manager, Democracy and Governance
T: +603 2070 8881/8882 | E: aira@ideas.org.my