Initiative to control ‘political financing’ under GTP — Najib

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PUTRAJAYA: The government will introduce another initiative under the government transformation programme (GTP) to curb political financing as a proactive measure to enhance transparency and public confidence in political organisations in the country, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the initiative would emphasise that any contribution made to any political party whether at the central or state level must be channeled through the official party account.

“This is to prevent politicians from misusing the name of the party to solicit for or to receive whatever contribution and later abusing it for personal gain,” he said when opening the Programme for Commissioned Integrity Officers at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here yesterday.

Najib said that every contribution made must be issued with a receipt and deposited into the party account.

Through a proper receipt account, this contribution could be audited at the end of each financial year, he said.

The government believed that such an initiative could prevent corrupt practices at the grassroots level and the benefits from such contributions could be channeled to all levels in the party as well as the general public, he said.

“On behalf of the government, I consider this issue as most important because in the absence of a policy that is precise, transparent and clear on the matter, it could create opportunities for corruption,” he said.

‘Political Financing’ is one of the suggestions made by the Anti-Corruption Committee and Anti-Corruption Advisory Board of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

On the move to require members of the administration to declare their assets, Najib said the government welcomed the suggestion by the MACC Advisory Board and agreed that the MACC Chief Commissioner be given full access to asset declaration documents by any member of the administration.

The Prime Minister also explained that the Barisan Nasional government had adopted the asset declaration practice much longer compared to the others.

“Every member of the administration is required to declare their assets as well as those of their closest family members to the Prime Minister.

Any addition or disposal of their asset must also be declared.

“In addition, all the asset declarations are made in the form of statutory declaration,” he said.

Meanwhile, Najib said the government, through the respective ministries, planned to display the draft of every bill on the website of the ministry concerned to ensure that every bill in the country was transparent and took into consideration the views of every one before it was enforced.

“This will refute the public as well as international perception that there are laws purportedly looking after the interest of certain groups only,” he said. — Bernama