DAP questions PM's sincerity in funding reform

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DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's commitment to instituting political financing laws.

This was after Najib announced the formation of a new committee to look into the matter with an aim to have the reforms implemented by the next general election.

Lim said noted Najib's announcement came amid the PM’s own scandal in which RM2.6 billion now admitted to have been deposited into his personal bank accounts, is being explained as political donations.

"The prime minister could not have made such a proposal in worse circumstances, for though the concept [...] is right, proper and deserves support, Najib's timing of such a proposal could only ensure its rejection or reception with great scepticism," said Lim in a statement last night.

Furthermore, Lim said Najib's refusal to come clean about the RM2.6 billion and now suddenly wanting to institute reforms on political funding does not inspire confidence.

Najib had refused to confirm the deposits when the allegation first emerged on July 2, but the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed this a month later and said it was a " donation ".

"Najib has lost the moral leadership and compass to talk about transparent and accountable political funding so long as he is not prepared to make a clean breast of the RM2.6 billion in his personal bank accounts, where the RM2.6 billion came from and to whom they went to," said Lim.

Idris Jala to retire?

Lim also questioned Najib's seriousness on the proposed laws, pointing out that the PM had appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala as deputy chairperson of the national consultative council on political funding.

Lim said Idris' senatorship is due to expire in September and he would cease to be a minister as he had already served as a member of the Dewan Negara for two terms.

The DAP veteran said Najib should prove his sincerity by explaining the RM2.6 billion within 72 hours.

"If in these 72 hours, Najib is not able to come clean on the RM2.6 billion and every cabinet minister fails to declare his or her position whether in receipt of handouts from Najib’s personal accounts or otherwise, then Malaysians have very powerful reasons not to take seriously the prime minister’s proposals on political funding," he said.



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