Anti-graft watchdog Transparency International (TI) has launched its pre-election assessment campaign via a poll of politicians' attitudes on issues of corruption and accountability.

As part of the initiative, a four-page questionnaire entitled 'Polling Politicians 2004' has been sent out to all incumbent members of Parliament quizzing them on their attitudes to a range of policies which contribute to greater transparency in legislative and enforcement bodies.

TI executive president Tunku Abdul Aziz said responses to the survey will be an important indicator of the MPs' support for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's anti-corruption drive.

"We are pleased to say that some replies are beginning to trickle in. The result of the survey will be given the widest possible publicity not only in this country but also through our vast network overseas," he said in a press statement.

TI projects manager Altaf Deviyati said four incumbents - all are from Barisan Nasional - have thus far returned the completed questionnaires.

"We sent the surveys out about a week ago. We will give them up to the elections to respond. We will release a press statement on the results and list those who do not respond," she said when contacted today.

Altaf said a similar survey was also conducted in 1999 before the general election and that TI had received "a lot of responses" though mostly from opposition party MPs.

Assets declaration

From a copy of the survey distributed to the press, it was noted that the questions are divided into eight categories: corruption, economic reform, free and fair election, freedom of information, constitutional and legal framework, the place of the judiciary in the democratic process, the role and control of the police in a non-police state and the role of a people's representative.

The respondents are required to declare whether they would support legislation requiring all ministers, deputy ministers, secretaries to ministers and public officials to declare their assets to an independent committee and if they believed that all political parties should reveal sources of their funding.

Under the economic reform section, MPs are questioned if they support policies requiring complete transparency in the awarding of government contracts, and if they are against the use of public funds to 'rescue' private companies.

They are also asked if they are against the awarding of government contracts to associates, friends and relatives of cabinet ministers.

On free and fair elections, the respondents are required to state their stand on whether limits should be imposed on campaign spending, and whether they support equal access to the media.

Another interesting question in this section is 'Will you initiate legislation imposing a maximum of two (five-year) terms for the prime minister?'

Rubber-stamp MPs

Respondents are also quizzed on matters relating directly to their responsibilities, particularly in passing and amending legislation.

Two key questions in this section are: 'Are you in favour of reviewing the previous practice of frequent amendments to the national constitution?' and 'Are you in favour of a public referendum before any major constitutional amendment?'

Survey respondents are asked if they support an 'independent' Parliament where parliamentarians are allowed to vote according to conscience on certain issues and not 'merely used as rubber stamps'.

This question is particularly significant in light of an expressed policy by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last year that all Barisan Nasional leaders are required to vote at all times in line with the BN government's position.

The ruling came about after two MCA state assemblypersons abstained from voting against a motion to delay the Penang Outer Ring Road project. The duo were subsequently disciplined.

On the role of the judiciary and the police, MPs are asked if they would support moves to set up independent commissions to review the justice system and complaints against the police respectively.

Last month, Abdullah set up a Royal Commission to find ways of modernising the police force and restoring its image that has been tainted by corruption and alleged use of excessive force.

Tunku Abdul Aziz is among 16 appointed members of the commission which is headed by headed by former Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.