PUTRAJAYA, Aug 15 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the establishment of the National Consultative Committee on Political Financing (JKNMPP) in drafting the integrity of the political financing plan comprehensive and inclusive on Friday in the press conference.
“JKNMPP will produce an action plan with integrity through the political financing reforms and improvements necessary legislation within one year, and implemented before the general election to the 14th. Currently, there are no rules on political financing that can determine something is wrong or not, although there are some rules on election expenditure,” said Najib.
“This plan is expected to boost confidence not only to members of political parties but also the people and future generations. JKNMPP be chaired Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) Datuk Paul Low, while another minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala as his deputy,” he said.
Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) will act as Reference and Consultation Center JKNMPP with the help of the secretariat, and the allocation provided by the Division of Integrity and Governance (ITU) JPM. He said JKNMPP established to determine the consultative process at all levels and take into account the views of all parties.
He added JKNMPP will be composed of representatives of political parties, community leaders, academics, think tanks, government agencies related, private sector, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, including young people.
“JKNMPP will consider all aspects of political financing regulations, including changes in institutions, monitoring and enforcement of legislation and new regulations. JKNMPP will become an advisor to the government in terms of financing political integrity,” said the Prime Minister.
Najib said the integrity of the political financing plan will address the issue of political financing ever raised since 2009, but he received no response. He said there was an urgent need to regulate political financing in order to ensure accountability and transparency in order to create a healthy political practice.
The Prime Minister said that the initiative is a part of the agenda of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and National Key Result Areas (NKRA) which is to to establish a governance mechanism and ‘check and balance’ (check and balance).
“The committee will also provide a forum for members to submit ideas and mechanisms for determining the integrity of political financing model. The committee will oversee the consultative dialogue with all segments of society in the country. The consultative process will be implemented by regional and global best practices,” he said.
When asked acceptance JKNMPP opposition to the establishment, Najib hoped that they are ready to accept transparent funding system and the integrity of it. “In the same time, the committee is ready to begin its work immediately. We have already developed basic tasks around two to three weeks,” said Low.
