PUTRAJAYA, Dec 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that political funding should be regulated for parties across the spectrum, putting it forward as a joint task for government and opposition.
Najib’s somewhat conciliatory statement still lacks detail but is not likely to bring consolation for his decision to keep controversial Sedition law in place despite earlier plans to scrap it.
“When it comes to political party contributions, we should have certain regulations in this aspect and we need the cooperation from opposition parties so we have a common stand in the question of political funding,” he said in his monthly speech to civil servants at the Perdana Putra Square.
The Sedition law also crept back into Najib’s rhetoric as he pointed to increasing racial polarisation in the country as justification for keeping the legislation.
The prime minister said Malaysia cannot afford to do away with the law as “irresponsible” and “immature” individuals still contribute to tensions among different ethnicities in the country.
The United States, a developed nation, has failed to deal with racism, leading to the type of protest that would have dire consequences if it happened in Malaysia, he argued.
Protests have been ongoing in the US following incidents of police shooting and killing of unarmed black men.
“That is why we’ve decided to keep the Sedition Act, not to restrict democracy, not to stifle the opposition. If you notice, the opposition is still free to do whatever they want and to strengthen their positions.
“That means democracy is still alive in the country. What we want to ensure is that there wouldn’t be any conflict among religions and races in this country,” he said during his last monthly address to public servants this year.
The Umno president spoke about tackling corruption on all levels as one of the four main issues to focus on as the new year approaches.
He also said the government will amend laws next year to hold private companies responsible for offering bribes.
“It is not fair for us to target the receiver only as the givers are also at fault and there should be heavier punishment for them.
“Corruption is a disease that can ruin everything in this country that we’ve built,” he added.
Najib also reiterated the threat of militancy group such as the Islamic State and stressed the need for another terror law to curb the growing influence of the terrorist group in Malaysia. The government is expected to table the bill during the next Parliamentary sitting in March.
