MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has instructed the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre to “refine” the political funding bill.

The de facto law minister said in a statement today that he has also ordered the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers to prepare an administrative draft taking into account the feedback from civil society groups and the public.

He said the draft is to be prepared “as soon as possible” to enable engagement sessions to be held with all stakeholders to meet the timeline.

Wan Junaidi said a recent meeting of government officials discussed the establishment of a regulatory entity for political donations, permitted contributors, and the penalties for offences under the new law.

Representatives of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Registrar of Societies, and the Companies Commission of Malaysia also attended the meeting.

He said the Companies Registration Department and the Companies Commission have also been instructed to look into blending the proposed act with the existing laws governing their jurisdictions.

To benchmark the funding law, Wan Junaidi said a comparative analysis needed to be carried out against similar laws in other countries.

To show transparency and accountability in political governance, and for the law to come into force quickly, he said a memorandum is expected to be presented to the cabinet in September. – August 13, 2022.