Kuala Lumpur, 9 September 2022: The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Political Financing is encouraged by the commitment by the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Dato’ Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to table the Political Financing Bill during the October parliamentary sitting.

However, considering that the sitting has been brought forward to 7 October, it is imperative that deliberations on the Bill’s contents be done thoroughly, with Members of Parliament (MPs) given sufficient time to consider and recommend improvements to the Bill.

“It is important to realise that the needs and concerns of each party with regards to political financing will differ. These differences must be openly discussed and taken into consideration to ensure the Bill is fair to all political parties. It is also vital that MPs are given the opportunity to receive advice and input from subject matter experts and stakeholders.  The recent example of the PSSC set up to deliberate the Anti-Hopping Bill is a positive one and ought to be replicated for Political Financing as well. Introducing a Bill as important as this should not be rushed and deliberation with all parties is a must”, stated YB Ahmad Fadhli, Chair of the APPG on Political Financing.

YB Ahmad Fadhli continued, “Hence, the APPG on Political Financing would like to call on the government to agree to formulate a Political Financing Bill that draws the best from the bill prepared by the AG Chambers and the bill prepared by this APPG, instead of rushing through the AG Chamber’s Bill in the October – November Dewan Rakyat meeting.” 

“Our APPG’s draft Bill was submitted as a Private Member’s Bill to the Dewan Rakyat on 13 July 2022. We are hopeful that some aspects from our Bill will be considered by the Government, including the important element on public funding of political parties, and we remain ready to contribute to the process of drafting this important legislation that will have a significant impact on Malaysia’s democracy,” said YB Ahmad Fadhli.

IDEAS CEO (Secretariat to the APPG on Political Financing) Dr Tricia Yeoh, commented, “We understand that the Law Minister Dato’ Seri Wan Junaidi has committed to consulting both civil society and all political parties as part of the process, and this is indeed welcomed. From the civil society and think tank perspective, we also believe that a multipartisan Parliamentary Special Select Committee is the best method to achieve a thorough review of the government’s draft Bill.  We look forward to seeing the process brought forward in the upcoming Parliamentary sitting. Finally, we also hope to see politicians and political parties across the divide supporting the formation of the PSSC.”

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Untuk pertanyaan media, sila hubungi:
Halmie Azri Abdul Halim, Executive, Democracy and Governance
T: +603 2070 8881/8882 | E: halmie@ideas.org.my

Louis Denis, Manager, External Relations
T: +603 2070 8881/8882 | E: louis@ideas.org.my

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.      Institut Demokrasi dan Hal Ehwal Ekonomi (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.  Malaysian Bar Council

11.  Puan Maha Balakrishnan (Pakar)

12.  Prof. Wong Chin Huat (Pakar)