Transparency International-Malaysia was in collaboration with Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Malaysia to host a half-day forum with the theme “Political Funding in Malaysia-The European Experience”.
The forum began with a welcoming remark by Dato’ Sri Akhbar, he believes that political financing law is crucial in reducing corruption and urges the government on regulating political funding.
It then move on to our first panel discussion. The session was on "Political Finance Regulations in Europe" and the panelists from Netherlands, Germany and Norway shared their respective country's regulations on political funding, covering sources of fund, legislation and recommendations to improve current legislation. In this session, we are glad to have HE Karin Mossenlechner, Ambassador at Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Malaysia, Dr. Klaus Paehler, Former Country Director in Malaysia Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Germany), Mr Erlend Sannes Hadland, Deputy Head of Mission Royal Norwegian Embassy in Malaysia as our panelists. The discussion was moderated by Chew Phye Keat, Exco TI-Malaysia.
Next was the second panel discussion, discussed on "Political Funding in Malaysia - The Way Forward". The panelists represented by academia, Prof. Terence, a professor of Political Economy, Faculty of Economics & Administration, University of Malaya, politician, Mr Tian Chua, Vice President of PKR and regulator, Mr Azhar Harun, Chairman of Election Commission gave us an insight on the legislation of political funding in Malaysia and discussed at length the roles of EC in regulating funds. The session was moderated by Mr Thomas Fann, Chairperson of Bersih 2.0. There were good feedback and relevant views from the politician present towards political funding.
The forum ended with closing remarks by Tan Sri Abu Kassim, Director General of National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) shared that money politics will exist if there is no regulation on political funding. GIACC is currently working on political funding bill, and expected to be completed by end-2020.
We would like to express our gratitude to Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Malaysia for supporting us in this forum.
Also, we got featured on the media!
https://bit.ly/2Y7xnEi, Political financing law should address money politics in party polls, says academic
https://bit.ly/2WeRqyY , Lessons from Europe: Transparency key to regulating political funding
Astro AWANI:
https://bit.ly/2UNms0A, TI-M sambut baik cadangan penubuhan Mahkamah Khas dan Mahkamah Tinggi Rasuah
https://bit.ly/2TOMeFg , TI-M cadang perkenalkan Akta Dana Politik bagi kurangkan rasuah politik
https://bit.ly/2UNSzgJ , 'Negara berdepan krisis integriti sekiranya...' - Akhbar Satar
http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/s/283723, 政府关联公司 不应资助政党 (GLCs should not fund political parties)
http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/s/283726, 阻商人走漏洞操纵选举 (Prevent businessmen to gain benefits from political funding )
http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/s/283724, 建议效仿挪威 无需补选填补空缺 (Lesson learnt from Norwegian parliamentary elections : No by-election)
MalaysiaKini :
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/469013, 资金属于公帑，选委会反对官企给政治献金 (The fund belongs to public, GLCs have no right to fund political parties: EC chair)
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/468971, Not right for GLCs to fund political parties: EC chair
Keadilan Daily:
http://www.keadilandaily.com/?p=73141, TI-M cadang segerakan penggubalan akta dana politik
