Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low wants all relevant stakeholders to be consulted in the new plan to regulate political funding as announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

 

"I hope all parties will be consulted including political parties, NGOs, academicians as well as specialists in the subject matter.

 

"This is a very inclusive project to deal with the issue of political financing," he told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

 

After coming under intense pressure over a RM2.6 billion 'political funding' deposit into his personal bank accounts, Najib yesterday announced the new plan to regulate campaign funding for the next general election.

 

"At present, even though there are a few rules on election spending, there are no rules about political funding that can determine whether it is illegal or not," he said at a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.

 

The plan would be crafted by the newly-formed national consultative committee on political funding known in Malay as Jawatankuasa Konsultatif Nasional Mengenai Pembiayaan Politik (JKNMPP).

 

The committee would be chaired by Low who is tasked with overseeing matters related to integrity. He would be assisted by Idris Jala, who is also minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

 

'A significant move'

 

Asked what could be expected from the plan, Low said it was very much depended on the results of the consultation process.

 

"What's to be inserted (and) the details of the plan will have to depend on the results of the consultation," he said.

 

Low also stressed that the plan was not a political initiative.

 

"That's why I am chairing it. (We) have to deal with the issue of political financing," he said.

 

Asked whether it was a good move on Najib's part to announce the plan when he is currently embroiled in a political funding scandal, Low said it definitely was.

 

"This is a significant move. It's something that he wanted to do.

"When I was in Transparency International, it was something I wanted to do for a long time as well," he said.

 

Najib had also said he had raised the issue in 2009 but claimed it did not gain traction. The new plan is expected to be completed within a year.

 

The JKNMPP will comprise political party representatives, community leaders, academics, thinkers as well as representatives from government agencies, the private sector, civil society and relevant stakeholders including youths.