THE proposed Political Financing Bill will only be introduced after a comprehensive review process that reflects broad public consultation, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran has said.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Kulasegaran stressed that the draft legislation, aimed at curbing corruption linked to political funds, is still being finalised by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department due to the extensive engagements carried out with stakeholders.
He said 12 state-level engagement sessions had been conducted, drawing 1,544 participants from across society, including federal and state government officials, political parties, village development and security committees, chambers of commerce, business associations, non-governmental organisations, academics and youth groups.
“This demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthen democratic practices involving public participation, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that every policy and piece of legislation formulated takes into account the realities and needs of the people,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Despite the ongoing consultations, several Members of Parliament have called for the Bill to be expedited so that it can be enforced before the next general election.
Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman warned that delaying reform would risk undermining electoral fairness.
“Without clear regulations, elections often become a battle of who has the deepest pockets rather than who has the best ideas,” she said.
“Expediting this before GE16 would ensure that all candidates and parties compete on a fairer basis.”
She also stressed the need for a strict prohibition on political financing from foreign entities, alongside a cap on annual donations to prevent any single contributor from exerting undue influence.
Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad expressed firm support for the proposed legislation, saying he believed it would mark a turning point in tackling corruption.
“I am all for the Bill because this will be a game changer in killing corruption and restoring the people’s trust in politics,” he said.
Opposition figures likewise voiced support for stronger safeguards. Perikatan Nasional MP for Pasir Mas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, called for full transparency to ensure that sources of political funds are legitimate.
Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said legislation was necessary to regulate foreign contributions to political parties.
“Otherwise, this could lead to foreign interference in steering the country’s direction,” he said.
The Bill is expected to form a central plank of the government’s broader institutional reform agenda, with mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle for its passage ahead of the next polls. - March 4, 2026
