KUALA LUMPUR: The country is in urgent need for a Political Funding Act, which should, among others, bar foreign donations and political funds from government-linked agencies and organisations with a conflict of interest.
The proposal was put forward by All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM) on Wednesday following recent revelations during court trials on the misuse of political funds.
APPGM chairman Ahmad Fadhli Saari, who is also Pasir Mas member of Parliament, said loopholes in current regulations had allowed politicians to receive funds from anyone, either locally or abroad.
"Besides that, there are no regulations that currently detail the maximum amount of funds that a politician or a candidate contesting in elections can receive.
"Although the current laws state the maximum expenditure limit for a candidate contesting in elections, the implementation and effectiveness of this law is still questionable.
"As such, APPGM believes that the country needs a Political Funding Act, that will emphasise on transparency as its main principle.
"The Act should also require the creation of an independent commission to monitor political fundings and introduce maximum limit of funds that an individual or company can contribute.
"All funds must be strictly channelled through political parties only, and not through individual politicians," he said in a statement.
Ahmad Fadhli said these principles would pave the way for a more transparent democratic system that upholds integrity.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, on May 19, said the government had agreed in principle to the drafting of a Political Funding Bill.
Meanwhile, the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, on Tuesday, urged the government to expedite tabling the said bill and to place the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under the jurisdiction of the Parliament.