Bersih cadang akta baharu kawal selia parti politik

Bersih, a reformist institution, has called for the enactment of new legislation to independently regulate political parties, following the controversy surrounding the cancellation of Perikatan Nasional (PN) registration by the Societies Registration Department (JPPM). Faisal Abdul Aziz, Bersih's president, emphasized the need for amendments to the existing Societies Act 1966, which currently governs political parties.

He proposed the creation of a specialized tribunal to resolve disputes between party members, intra-party and cross-party, as well as between cross-party members, to ensure fairness and justice.

Currently, parties registered under the Societies Act 1966 raise concerns about the autonomy of the Registrar of Societies from executive influence, even though Section 3(1) of the Act clearly states that the appointment of registrars is solely made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Faisal believes that a specific Political Parties Act would be a more suitable long-term solution, allowing parties to be registered and regulated independently from other entities.

He cited the Kenya Political Parties Act 2011 as an example, noting that it outlines the process of establishing and electing responsible election committees for party presidential candidates, non-executives, observers, and independent contributors.

The proposed legislation would also cover the registration of political parties, including the formation procedures of cross-party alliances, both before and after elections. It would oversee the financial transparency of parties, requiring them to disclose assets, expenditures, and political donations. Faisal further suggested establishing a specialized tribunal to mediate disputes among party members, party and intra-party members, and cross-party members, providing a platform for all parties involved to seek justice and be heard.

On Thursday, the High Court granted a stay on PN's cancellation of registration while awaiting the outcome of a joint application from JPPM and the Home Minister. Both JPPM and the Home Minister subsequently filed appeals against the stay. PN filed a motion for judicial review on October 5th, seeking to dismiss notices demanding clarification on why their registration should not be canceled, as well as an additional separate notice suspending their activities for an unspecified period. The motion was filed by the senior secretary of five component parties of PN, excluding Bersatu.