TI-M hopes new gov't won't abandon IPCMC and Political Financing Act

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) said it hopes Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's government will continue with the reforms initiated by the previous Pakatan Harapan government, particularly the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and Political Financing Act.

It pointed out that these reforms were also campaigned for by Bersatu when it was part of the Harapan coalition.

Muhyiddin, who is the Bersatu president, had taken the party out of Harapan to form a new government in cooperation with rogue PKR MPs, BN, PAS and GPS.

"TI-M hopes the new prime minister will not bring back anyone with a reputation for corrupt practices or ongoing court cases into cabinet or positions of power.

"Similarly, we hope the efforts of reform that the prime minister and his party Bersatu campaigned for in 2018, are continued, such as the Political Financing Act, the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, and the Parliament Act are enacted in their true form.

"Instead of delaying Parliament seating for nearly three months, the new government should be proving their confidence in their coalition and their commitment to their duty by proceeding with the early sitting of Parliament to get things moving," it said in a statement today.

The Dewan Rakyat was supposed to convene tomorrow but this has been delayed to May 18.

Critics claimed that Muhyiddin was trying to buy time to solidify his uncertain majority in the House but his supporters said the new government needs time to form the cabinet and get its house in order first.

TI-M said it is ready to engage with the government, politicians, organisations and individuals who genuinely support transparency, good governance, justice and anti-corruption.

"Whilst circumstances of political instability and leadership tussles may have favoured a particular group or faction, Malaysians have been clear on what they want - justice, no impunity, and zero tolerance for corruption.

"If the new government fails to respect these demands, the rakyat will punish them at the upcoming polls in 2020 and 2022," it said.