Political Funding Bill Still Under Study, Requires Agreement From All Parties - Azalina

MELAKA, May 8 (Bernama) -- The proposed drafting of the Political Funding Bill is still under study and requires the consensus of all political parties before it can proceed further.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said such an agreement is crucial as political parties would be the primary stakeholders and users of the legislation.

She said studies on political funding mechanisms are ongoing, but several policy matters have yet to reach consensus, including public funding for political parties, contribution limits and the authority responsible for regulating political funds.

“For UMNO, political funding has always been a topic of discussion, but so far it has not reached the level of the Legal Affairs Division. Some political parties also raised the issue during the 15th General Election.

“So the final decision really depends on the agreement of all political parties because they will ultimately be the users of the law,” she told reporters.

Azalina said this during a press conference after attending the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Multimedia University (MMU) and the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department, as well as the launch of the MMU Legal Aid Clinic (MULA Clinic) today.

When asked whether the bill could be tabled before the next General Election, Azalina said she could not provide any certainty.

“Before the general election? I honestly do not know. It is difficult for me to comment because I do not even know myself,” she said.

-- BERNAMA