PAKATAN Harapan is undecided on how to regulate political funding, said chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said while parties need funding, the old ways of “receiving” funds from companies or individuals open them up to corruption.

“Recently, a company wanted to give RM100 million to Tabung Harapan, but we rejected it. Although, it was for the government and not the party, such donations inevitably come with requests,” said Dr Mahathir after chairing a PH presidential meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

The prime minister said an option would be to emulate the German system, where the government provides funding to parties.

“If we follow the German model, there may be enough money for the party. But then, people may start parties to get this money.”

He said donations to parties are unacceptable if they run into tens and hundreds of millions.

Dr Mahathir said one thing made clear in the PH meeting was that the previous methods of obtaining donations from rich individuals and companies are unacceptable.

“We used to have dinners to collect money, but we weren’t the government then. Hence, no need to repay the donations.

“If a company gives RM100 million to the party, it would be worse, and we would be going back to the old ways.”

The 93-year-old said political donations could open parties up to bribery.

He said although the government does not fund parties, allocations are given to elected representatives.

“The allocations are for the people, not the party.

“We are a masses-based party and we need people campaigning for us all over the country, and some of them have to be paid.” – October 5, 2018.