A big set back is the practice of patronage which drive politicians to seek money at the risk of compromising principles, said PKR's Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen.
Other examples of BN's lack of respect for democracy included discrimination in the disbursal of federal funds for opposition-held constituencies and use of government machinery during election campaigns, said PAS's Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.
Both were speakers at a forum titled, “Political Funding or Corruption: The RM2.6 billion Question” in Petaling Jaya last night, as the government starts work on a political funding reform plan following a fund transfer scandal that involved Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Khalid, of PAS, said the clearest signs of how the BN does not respect democratic ideals compared with political parties in Western countries, was how the federal government discriminates between BN and opposition MPs when giving out development funds.
BN MPs get about RM1 million a year to carry out programmes for their constituencies.
For opposition MPs, no funds are given directly for any programme. Instead, the taxpayers money is funnelled through a special government agency which can only be accessed by Umno division chiefs in the opposition constituency, he said.
“BN does not respect that people have the right to choose their government and they don’t respect the people’s choice,” said Khalid.
“In Western countries, politicians from all parties believe in proper democratic practices, which includes not abusing your position. So, for example, when a politician receives even 5,000 dollars, he is forced to resign.
"In Malaysia, Najib gets RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts and he still remains in power despite the suspicious circumstances behind the transfer of such a large amount to his personal account," Khalid said.
The prime minister is under intense pressure from the public and from his own party to justify receiving RM2.6 billion in political donations from a Middle Eastern country.
To placate his critics, Najib announced that a committee had been formed to draft new laws for political funding.
Wong, of PKR, said public funding of MPs’ service centres and staff was necessary to create independent-thinking lawmakers who will not be beholden to their patrons from within or outside their own parties.
“1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) is a story of political patronage. If we do not stop the patronage system then this country will never improve.”
Debt-ridden state investor 1MDB is currently being investigated for impropriety and mismanagement by several authorities.
A Wall Street Journal expose in June alleged that a company in the Genting Group had donated RM10 million to a charity organisation which then used the money to fund programmes in BN’s 13th general election campaign.
The money was donated after 1MDB bought power assets from the Genting Group, at a price that was allegedly five times their worth.
1MDB has defended its purchase from Genting Group, saying the acquisition was made for their long-term value and not out of political considerations.
Another speaker, anti-graft activist Cynthia Gabriel said patronage could be stopped if politicians publicly declared their assets before holding office.
“By declaring their wealth before holding office and every two years while they are in office, the public will be able to determine whether they used their positions to amass wealth,” said Gabriel of the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).
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