THE erosion of political credibility and legitimacy has demonstrated an urgent need for funding laws. This must be addressed to stop the loss of Malaysians’ interest and trust in the political system, as was evident by low turnout of voters in the Malacca and Johor elections.

A demand for such laws was made by civil society after the 2008 general election. It was even part of Pakatan Harapan’s reform manifesto; its coalition partner, DAP once put “anti-corruption” at the top of its agenda, organising ed numerous forums to discuss legislative reforms and submitting recommendations to the anti-corruption bill of 1997. 

The PH government announced in September 2019 that the it will be tabling a new act to monitor activities related to political funding. As expected, nothing happened.

Unfortunately, since then, not a single party, either in the ruling coalition or the opposition, pushed the bill forward to demand greater transparency in party funding. There was deafening silence on this. 

Despite support for and much talk of such reforms, they were never raised in parliament. 

Najib Razak even formed a national consultative committee on political financing which had released a report resembling that submitted by the G25 group except that it excluded caps on funds given to and spent by parties – effectively legitimising the use of an unlimited amount of money in politics. As usual, nothing came out of it.

It is common knowledge that parties in both BN and Pakatan have secretly received funding from individuals and corporations.

After it was voted out of power for 22 months, Umno, the lynchpin of BN, is once again called for a political funding act. 

The PH government had formed an election reform committee (ERC) to gather input from various groups, which was compiled and its recommendations submitted to the government in January 2020. The report contained 49 reform proposals covering principles of accountability and transparency in political funding, financial assistance from the state, sources of funding, auditing of political accounts, ban on parties to having more than RM1 billion of assets, and prohibition on GLCs making political contributions.

The groundwork for political financing reforms has already been laid in the reports submitted by the G25 group in 2016 and the ERC in 2020. There is no reason now for the government and the opposition, including Muda and social movement Gerak to ignore it. All of them should push the government to appoint a committee to review the previous cabinet committee reports and make the necessary refinements. 

Often there are too many laws and too little enforcement governing the process of political finance for them be effective as evidenced in some countries. Thus, it is preferable that a single agency – the Election Commission in this instance – enforce the law.

The people pray that the present government is brave enough to make the change happen by tabling a bill this yearto pass a law on regulating political financing and making the next general election free of money politics.

Money should not be allowed to buy decision-making power in this country. The 1MDB affair has made it clear that rules and transparent accounts are needed to restoring trust in politicians.

Umno has started the ball rolling by calling for this to be urgently implemented. 

PH, Warisan, Muda, GRS, GPS and the Gerak movement should come together and push for this to be implemented too.

Voters will not forgive the political parties which delay or refuse to come together and support the legislation. – March 19, 2022.

FLK reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.