Can both BN and Pakatan accept reforms on political funding?

Both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders might not be too keen about this idea, but one Cabinet minister hopes to introduce reforms on a very touchy subject: political funding.

Speaking to Astro AWANI recently, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low shared some of his visions and ideas on the matter that he wants to bring to the table but ‘may not see the light of day’.

“Proposals have been made to the government on political financing and political campaigns. We need to ensure all donations go to the political parties, not individual pockets,” said Low, who heads the Transparency, Integrity, Governance and Human Rights portfolio.

Low said ideally, political donations should not come from private entities but the states instead.

“I would like to see private funding of campaigns stop entirely. Funds should come from the state. This is being effectively done in countries like South Korea and Germany.”

He said when politicians solicit money from private entities or individuals, it goes into an area that is very ‘grey’ and hard to define unless rules are specified.

“They (parties and donors) have to be accountable and receipts need to be issued. For companies, the donations should be reflected in their accounts.”

When asked if it was possible that Malaysians adopt such practices, Low replied: “It’s difficult but it should be done if you really want transparency. I believe we must discourage donation from other sources and go fully on state funding.”

Low said issues dealing with political campaigning should be guided by clear rules.

“For example, what is considered vote-buying and what’s not? Many people are confused because there is no agreed guideline to say this is prohibited or this is okay. You can give money to someone to say ‘please vote for me’. But you cannot prove that the person voted for you or not because you don't see the ballot, right?

“That’s why for me, it should be prohibited entirely. The law has to define it. But how far I can go to put this in place, I’m not sure.”

Low also said foreign funding of political parties should be banned, as currently practised in many other countries.

“I’d like to see it banned. Otherwise, if the political candidate comes into power or positions of authority, we won’t know if he or she woul be influenced by a foreign power. You don’t know people’s actual interests. The risk of jeopardising the country’s sovereignty is always there.”