EC wants to audit election campaign funds - Abdul Aziz

Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusoff said there is a need to review the limits of funds used in Parliament and state elections.

He said it is also important to know the source of the funding and how it is spent.

“With the current situation, I would suggest that the limits of the expenses be reviewed,” he said in an interview with Buletin AWANI today.

“Maybe the EC should be given the power to audit and determine if the right amount of money is spent for the election campaigns,” he said.

Abdul Aziz also called on the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to look carefully into financial sources behind the political parties that it registers.

“See where the funds came form –is it from registered companies or from unwanted quarters. Also need to determine if it came from within or outside the country,” he said.

He said all these are important to ensure political parties are able to use funds for campaigns, fairly.

“There are many models overseas. Some say the sources must be legally registered companies. It means no black money,” he said.

Abdul Aziz admitted that political parties need funds for their party management and administration but he said the EC is responsible to ensure political parties use funds not exceeding RM200,000 for Parliament and RM100,000 for state seats elections.