DAP publicity chief Tony Pua today questioned the real motives behind the government’s proposal to enact a new law to scrutinise the finances of political parties.

dap 2010 budget rocket cafe 071009 tony pua 01 He said suggestions for a Political Party Act would hamper efforts by opposition parties to source funds from donors who prefer anonymity over fear of government reprisal.  

"The proposed move is to identify our party supporters and financiers to penalise and harass them into withdrawing their financial support for opposition parties," claimed Pua at the sidelines of the 15th DAP national conference in Ipoh.

As an example, Pua said such a law might invite the Barisan Nasional federal government to cancel or deny government contracts of donors.

DAP committee to keep tabs

Pua was commenting on National Key Result Areas (NKRA) director Hashim Nordin's statement that the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) will conduct a `mini lab study’ next month on political corruption in the country.

This will enable Pemandu to draw up a model for the proposed Political Party Act which would force political parties to disclose their source of funding, as there was currently no holistic approach available.

Hashim said studies are expected to be completed within two weeks, in time for the Bill to be tabled in Parliament during the March sitting.

Pua said DAP will form a seven member committee to keep tabs on the Pemandu study and demand full disclosure of the proposed Political Party Act.