PAS supports PDEA

PAS today declared its support for the proposed Political Donation and Expenditure Act (PDEA) that is aimed at curbing political funding.

Its deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the proposal which was submitted by the National Consultative Committee on Political Funding (NCCPF) last year was necessary as Malaysia did not have any specific laws to monitor the funds of political parties.

He said in April, PAS together with its partners in the Gagasan Sejahtera political alliance had submitted papers on their views on the PDEA, including a proposed action plan to the NCCPF.

"PAS wants the act to be formulated and we hope that the NCCPF which is chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan will table the proposed act in Parliament.

"The act can curb certain parties from continuing with their money politics which will ultimately destroy political parties in the country," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Munaqasyah Rakyat community programme here today.

In October 2016, the NCCPF tabled a resolution in Cabinet to demand greater transparency from political parties on the reporting of political funds, and proposed the idea of the PDEA.

The PDEA will serve as a platform for an effective control of political funding.

The act would also improve existing laws including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009, the General Elections Act 1957, the Election Commission Act 1957, Election Offences Act 1954, Societies Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

Low was earlier reported as saying the proposed act would hopefully be tabled in Parliament for debate and passed before the 14th General Election (GE14).

-- BERNAMA