Najib to again propose for political parties to reveal sources of funds

Datuk Seri Najib Razak would again propose regulations requiring political parties to divulge the sources of their political funds.

The Prime Minister said a similar proposal he had previously made, with the aim of ensuring greater transparency, was rejected by the DAP.

"The party president can source funds for the party. I can explain (the sources of UMNO funds), on condition that the opposition parties also explain the sources of their funds.

"The DAP has to explain. PKR has to explain where it gets its funds. I can also explain if they will. We will do so together, then it's fair," he said when opening the Seremban UMNO Division delegates meeting in Paroi here.

Najib, who is the UMNO president, said he often came under "attack" from the Opposition parties over the source of UMNO funds, but they were reluctant to reveal the sources of their funds.

He questioned the DAP move to reject the earlier proposal, and said: "The DAP did not agree. Why? Anything to hide? When you do not agree, what's the reason?"

The first proposal was made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and required political parties to declare the sources of their political funding for transparency.

Barisan Nasional strategic communications director, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan yesterday said the DAP was among the parties to quickly object to the proposal, allegedly fearing that it could be detrimental to it.

He had said when the MACC made the proposal, Najib was the first leader to support the idea and had wanted to implement it and include it in the Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Seremban UMNO Division chief Datuk Abu Ubaidah Redza, Telok Kemang UMNO Division chief Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and several Negeri Sembilan UMNO leaders were also present at the event.