PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said ideally, the proposed law should be finalised by early next year so it can be tabled at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in March.
This, he said, was so it could be implemented before the next general election to ensure the country’s democratic process would not be tainted by money politics.
“Gagasan Sejahtera (Gagasan) believes this is an important law to ensure the eradication of corruption and money politics.
“These practices have become the norm and are a cancer to this country.
“We urge the government to have the law debated and passed by the first Parliament sitting next year,” he told a press conference at PAS headquarters here today.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Ikatan president Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir were also present.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low had in September said despite the recommendations of the National Consultative Committee on Political Financing, the proposed law might only be enforced in time for the 15th general elections.
Kadir, however, said where there was a will, there would be a way.
He said there was no reason to delay the implementation of the new law, which Gagasan fully supported, except for a couple of provisions in the committee’s proposal.
“We do not agree with the proposal to remove the caps on campaign expenditure and the amount of donations a political party can receive.
“Without the limits, it will be a battle of who can spend the most, which will increase the BN’s likelihood of winning the elections.”