KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — The Political Financing Bill should set clear penalties for political parties that breach contribution limits or fail to report their funding, while also establishing an independent regulatory body to ensure the law is effectively enforced.

Deputy director of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) National Governance Planning Division Mohd Gunawan Che Ab Aziz said the matter is among five key governance principles to consider when drafting the Bill.

He said the five principles comprised transparency, accountability, equity and fairness, independence, and inclusiveness and participation.

“Under the principle of accountability, there should be clear penalties for breaching contribution limits or failing to report funding, as well as, of course, a responsible regulatory body.

“The regulatory body has yet to be decided. There have been suggestions that the role could be given to the Election Commission (EC), the MACC, or a newly established special commission,” he said.

He said this while speaking as a panellist at the Political Financing Reform Forum: Balancing Transparency, Accountability and Democratic Participation, organised by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department, here today.

Mohd Gunawan said the matter is still open to further review, with BHEUU to determine the most suitable proposal before bringing it to Parliament.

On the principle of equity and fairness, he said contribution limits and conditional public funding are important to ensure that political parties, whether small or large, compete on a more transparent, level playing field while strengthening democracy.

Meanwhile, he said the regulatory body must be independent and free from interference by any party, including the ruling party or external interests.

“This regulatory body has a significant responsibility to ensure that the law is properly and effectively enforced,” he said.

On the principle of inclusiveness and participation, Mohd Gunawan said the law-drafting process should provide the widest possible opportunity for civil society, stakeholders and political parties to give their views.

He said political parties are among the most important stakeholders in implementing the law and should be involved in developing comprehensive legislation that reflects its intended purpose.

“We need to ensure that this does not restrict democracy itself, but instead helps to strengthen democratic participation in a democratic country,” he said.

Mohd Gunawan said the Political Financing Bill is also needed to close gaps in existing laws, including the Societies Act 1966 and the Election Offences Act 1954.

He said greater transparency in political financing is expected to increase public trust in the country’s system and governance, as well as strengthen Malaysia’s standing internationally. — Bernama