REGULATIONS on political funding are necessary to instil greater transparency but Pakatan Harapan (PH) will not agree to those under the current Barisan Nasional (BN) government for fear of persecution, said Amanah’s Khalid Samad.

Khalid said any disclosure of public funders to the opposition pact will lead to persecution and attacks by the government.

“All political parties need funding and… it’s much better for everyone in the political arena that this funding or significant portion of it is comes from the public so they have to become more accountable to them,” said Khalid.

“That is a principle in which I am in total agreement.

“(But) to implement it under BN (Barisan Nasional), as I said, would be opening ourselves up to a lot of legal action and a lot of political prosecution or persecution, particularly to our donors,” said the Shah Alam MP in a forum on public funding for political parties at Kuala Lumpur today.

However, he agreed that public funding for political parties should be looked into seriously to create a more transparent political environment.

“When you don’t have a clear legal source for the money… then you get all these funny approaches which include the practice of cronyism and so on and so forth.

“But in Malaysia, the problem isn’t about the lack of laws or policies… the problem is the implementation.”

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said earlier today that Prime Minister Najib Razak is allegedly “squeezing” money from individuals as well as companies to boost the government’s coffers ahead of the 14th general election (GE14).

He also said Putrajaya was telling taxpayers and firms to stop funding the opposition or be seen near them.

“Najib fears financial support for the opposition. To stop this, Najib resorts to threats and harassments against potential donors to the opposition.

“This takes the form of squeezing individuals and companies for extra income and corporate taxes. Income tax people would reclassify allowances and make them taxable. Tax would be demanded on these newly taxable items and backdated by 10 or 20 years. Suddenly, taxpayers find that they have to pay millions in back taxes,” said the Pakatan Harapan chairman.

In September, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low said laws to govern political funding for parties will be ready by the 15th general election. 

“This act is not in time for the 14th general election but will be in place for GE15. It is a big piece of legislation.”

Low said private and public funding mechanisms for political parties were discussed but many were opposed to public funding as they objected to taxpayers funding politicians. – December 15, 2017.