Kuala Lumpur, 9 March 2023 – The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and the undersigned organisations applaud the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman’s announcement of expediting legal reforms and the setup of Parliamentary Special Select Committees (PSSC) on various topics including on the Political Funding Bill.

The minister said that the PSSC will be used as a platform to engage MPs on the Political Funding Bill. We are encouraged by the intention of the government to ensure cross-partisan support for proposed reforms and that the PSSC will consider  opinions and insights from the public and civil society groups. Genuine participation from the public and civil society groups will ensure comprehensive and feasible  policies. Therefore, we look forward to being involved in various meetings of the Political Funding PSSC as well as several other PSSCs.

We are pleased with the government’s commitment to establish the PSSC given the absence of any indication on political financing reforms. With a PSSC set in place, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Political Financing can resume its efforts to push for  legislation on political financing. We strongly urge the government to establish a functional PSSC that will expedite the Political Funding Bill without further delays, as was the case last year.

Together with other civil society groups involved and IDEAS as the secretariat of the APPG on Political Financing, we have previously submitted a Private Member’s Bill on Political Financing. The Bill underscores the importance of public funding and an independent commission – two critical elements necessary for transparency and for levelling the playing field among political parties. We strongly urge the relevant PSSC to take the Private Member’s Bill as a point of reference in drafting their Political Funding Bill, as it provides valuable insights that could contribute to the development of a comprehensive and effective political financing legislation.

Issued by:

IDEAS – Secretariat of the recently dissolved APPG on Political Financing

Endorsing organisations:

1. Agora Society
2. Bait Al Amanah
3. BERSIH
4. C4 Center
5. Engage Network
6. Transparency International Malaysia
7. Rasuah Busters

Endorsing individual:

1. Andrew Khoo
2. Maha Balakrishnan
3. Terence Gomez 
4. Wong Chin Huat

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For enquiries, please contact:
Salsabila Abdul Manan, Research Executive,
Democracy and Governance Unit
T: +603 2070 8881/8882 | E: salsabila@ideas.org.my

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