Special panel to scrutinise draft of Political Funding Bill early next year

Parliament’s Special Select Committee on Bills Consideration will meet early next year to scrutinise the draft of the Political Funding Bill, says its chairman Ram Karpal Singh.

“We are currently busy going through the draft of the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission Bill (IPCMC) which was recently referred to us.

“We hope to begin our work on the draft of the Political Funding Bill by early next year,” he said yesterday.

Ram Karpal said it was crucial to determine the scope of the proposed laws first before the committee decides on who to call for their views.

On Thursday, Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff informed lawmakers in

Dewan Rakyat that the committee has been tasked to scrutinise the Bill.

He said the committee will have until before the end of the second meeting of Parliament next year to make recommendations on improving the proposed Bill.

The proposed law aims at curbing corruption by regulating political funding in a more transparent and accountable manner.

Also being proposed is that political parties be provided funds based on payment of RM10 for every vote obtained in the election.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said last month that the Bill was expected to be tabled next year.

He said it was apt for the Bill to be scrutinised by the bi-partisan committee as the proposed law involves political parties.