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

“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. 

“We have consulted with the public and political parties on this,” Low said after the opening of a regional conference on democracy in Southeast Asia, organised by Suhakam and the Kofi Annan Foundation.

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

“They don’t want taxpayers’ money to be used for parties that champion causes or ideologies they don’t subscribe to,” said Low.

He said Malaysia will focus on private funding, which can be made online to show contributions and spending.

Suggestions for a law to regulate political donations came about in 2016 after revelations of a massive cash transfer to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal account in the run-up to the last elections in 2013.

Among the recommendations for the Political Donations and Expenditure Act is the ban on cash donations from foreign sources.

Najib received US$700 million in his personal bank account in 2013. The Wall Street Journal alleged that the money came from state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Najib, however, has denied the allegations, saying that the donation came from the royal family of Saudi Arabia.

Opposition politicians have expressed concerns that disclosure of donors’ identities may deter contributions to their campaigns. They also said businesses which have supported them have been harassed or blacklisted from certain contracts. – September 2, 2017.