Tan Sri Ramon: Do we want to promote more money politics

Excerpt:

"Most Malaysians are wondering why the chairperson of the National Consultative Committee on Political Financing (NCCPF), YB Paul Low, and his able committee members have casually recommended the removal of the cap on funding and spending during future election campaigns?

Is it their purpose to promote and expand money politics, instead of controlling this somewhat callous and corrupting bad electoral practice?

Does this new election recommendation help to promote ‘state capture’, where the rich and powerful will be able to provide limitless political funding, that is even tax free, to elect favoured candidates of the rich and to keep them in power ad infinitum or, forever and ever, as the old song goes?"

"Although the NCCPF claims that it tries to promote transparency and accountability, it would be throwing the vital prerequisite and requirement of integrity in election financing to the winds, if the cap on election funding and expenditure is completely removed.

The NCCPF also states that tax exemption will also be limitless, if and when the cap on election financing is removed. We would then have wholesale tax avoidance, some tax evasion and even provide greater opportunities for money-laundering for those indulging in shady businesses. Is this what we need when we have so many socio-economic challenges staring us starkly in our faces?"

Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/357740#ixzz4N2OLBwiY

IMHO: It is incredible that Paul Low would actually promote the removal of the cap on funding, especially with the incentive of tax free provision. It is quite obvious the move is to make the infamous Rm2.6 billions in Najib's account seems legal, even if retrospective without legal basis. Link