NCCPF: Political funding system needs to be overhauled

KUALA LUMPUR: There must be an overhaul of the system in relation to political donations and funding, says the National Consultative Council on Political Funding (NCCPF).

Its secretariat chief Amerul Muner Mohammad said this was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability of candidates and political parties.

“Previously, emphasis is on the candidates during the election period but there are also a lot of activi ties that happen outside that time.

“Besides, political parties are only governed under the Societies Act. These are the things that we should look into,” he told reporters after meeting the Committee of Institutional Reforms (IRC) at Ilham Tower yesterday.

Amerul said their earlier proposals on political financing were insufficient to deal with these issues.

He said any new law on political funding must also address the roles played by the Election Commission and Parliament.

The NCCPF was formed in 2016 and comes under the purview of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

Earlier, G25 which was also called in to meet the IRC, said key public institutions must be independent and free from political interference.

“Institutional reforms are very important in bringing back confidence to the economy and creating a check and balance to avoid abuse of power,” said G25 founding member Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim.

He cited the setting up of a commission for the appointment of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner and the creation of an independent public prosecutor’s office.

“The MACC will be answerable to the commission, which in turn is answerable to Parliament,” he said.

Mohd Sheriff said other institutions such as police and the hiring of senior heads of government departments should also be free from political interference.

Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, another member of G25, said if these reforms were implemented, it would do away with the “culture of fear”.

“The Prime Minister should have no say on appointments of these key positions,” she said.

On May 15, the Government set up IRC and it is chaired by retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk K.C. Vohrah.