'Political financing needs to be monitored' - Paul Low

Political financing must be monitored to ensure elements of corruption do not enter the political institution of the country.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan said the Government is currently looking into this in order to come up with a transparent and accountable mechanism.

"Funding sources must be known so that political parties are not obtaining funds from sources like organised crime, for example," said Low.

He added that there is a tendency for groups who provide funds for political parties to influence policy-making if the party they funded takes control of the government.

"So, we need to come up with a way where these funds can be reported and audited," said Low.

Besides that, these sort of money politics prevents those who truly have the nation's interests at heart from participating in politics.

"As you know elections are costly and requires money.

"Of course it is fine if the funds were raised through crowdfunding or through membership fees and public donations," said Low.

The issue of political funding was thrown into the spotlight following the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) statement that the RM2.6 billion in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's private accounts were declared as donations.