KUALA LUMPUR: The policy and scope of the proposed political funding law have yet to be finalised, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this was because the matter is still under scrutiny by the relevant bi-partisan Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC).
"Following several meetings of the PSSC, the Bi-Partisan Parliamentary Group (BPPG) on political funding made proposals on several parameters and a new policy.
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"This includes the limit on the scope concerning individual contributions or from political parties and determination of public funds for political parties (within the scope of) the proposed law," he said in a parliamentary written reply to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) on Tuesday (Oct 15).
On Sept 8 last year, he said the Cabinet had agreed that the scope of the proposed law be referred to the PSSC in charge of human rights, elections and institutional reforms.
He added that The Cabinet decided to avoid pushing the proposed law through before it is fine-tuned to avoid negative implications.
"The parameters of the new policy are currently under consideration by the PSSC.
"Engagement sessions will be held with relevant stakeholders once the parameters and policy on political funding are finalised by the committee and presented to the Cabinet," he said.
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The initial proposal was submitted to the PSSC on Nov 9, based on a draft political funding law prepared by the former National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC).
Following its restructuring, the GIACC is now a division under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
A proposal for a law on political funding was noted in 2015 and gained traction following the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.
In 2022, there were plans to fast-track the tabling of a Political Funding Bill in Parliament, which was to have been drafted by the GIACC.
However, the GIACC was disbanded following the change of administration in late 2022.
