KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Putrajaya’s formation of a bi-partisan panel to regulate political funding is premature given that investigations into the RM2.6 billion donation deposited into the prime minister’s accounts are continuing, Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru said today.
Steven added that the Malaysian Bar will not participate in the said panel, although he added that the regulatory body for legal practitioners here has not been approached to do so.
“Indeed, the proposal to set up the committee will invariably be seen as an attempt to divert attention from the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) investigation, or to create a convenient distraction from the serious allegations of corruption as well as the ramifications of these allegations, if proven to be true,” he said in a statement.
“The discourse on these new laws should await the completion of the ongoing investigation into the transfer of the funds. This is, in particular, because a donation is still within the definition of ‘gratification’ under the MACC Act 2009 .”
The president of the Malaysian Bar said that talk about regulating political funding has long existed, but noted that the first concrete measure towards its implementation only arose following the recent controversy.
He said current authorities must be focus on investigating allegations linked to the donation, rather than indulging on side issues and “smokescreens”.
On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the formation of a bi-partisan panel to gather input for a law to regulate political funding, saying this was necessary to ensure the country practiced “healthy” politics.
Najib denied the idea was a result of the furore over the RM2.6 billion donation deposited into his personal accounts, and said the panel, called the National Consultative Committee on Political Fundings, was a follow-up to his pledge to regulate political funding in 2009.
