Azalina: Malaysians want political funding law before GE16; political parties’ buy-in needed to avoid delay

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Malaysians have voiced their desire for Malaysia to have a political financing law to regulate political parties’ funding before the 16th general election, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said today.

Azalina’s remarks were based on findings from the Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) public engagement sessions.

“I was informed by the BHEUU deputy director general (policy) many voices of the public wants, if possible, that this Act can be in force before the 16th general election,” she said at the Political Financing Convention 2026 held at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) building.

Azalina said the views of political parties would have to be obtained before the proposed political financing law is brought to Parliament, as it would be politicians in Parliament who would vote on whether to introduce such a law.

“So they are the users and they will vote on the law. So you must have them to have more say. If not, the delay of the Act may happen if there is no buy-in from political parties,” she said.

Earlier in the same speech, Azalina said she understood the debates, criticism and public anxiety over the process to introduce a political financing law not being as quick as other reform agendas.

“And certainly the people have the right to hope for changes and to demand the government fulfill the commitment as soon as possible.

“But on behalf of the government, I admit that the agenda of institutional legal reform, when we talk about political financing, is not a process that is that simple and capable of being implemented so quickly,” she said, emphasising the need for political parties to be stakeholders and to give their views since the proposed law would apply to them.

“Political will is not just measured by how quickly a reform is presented, but it also has to be evaluated based on the courage to start it, the readiness to accept views and criticism, and the strength of determination to carry it out,” she added.

Earlier in the speech, Azalina said BHEUU had taken over studies on the proposed political financing law since May 2023, and that the Cabinet had on September 8, 2023 agreed in principle to the drafting of the law and decided on further studies on the policy scope.

Azalina noted that BHEUU had carried out engagement work on the proposed law reform over the past two years.

Later at a press conference, Azalina replied to a question on why the political financing law had yet to be introduced in Malaysia, saying this was due to studies being carried out over the past two years: “The delay is not a political delay, but delay in terms of process and procedure done by BHEUU.”

Asked if it was possible for the proposed political financing law to be introduced before GE16, Azalina said the question of when GE16 would be held should be directed to the prime minister.

As for the timeline for how soon the law could be introduced, Azalina said, “I wish it’s as soon as possible”, but that it would depend on the work being done to prepare the Bill.

At the press conference, Azalina outlined various technical aspects of the proposed political financing law that have to be considered before it is brought to the Cabinet, and also proposed that BHEUU collect the written official opinions of all registered political parties in Malaysia on whether they agree to such a law.

Findings show 90.3 per cent want political financing law before GE16

Earlier at the convention, BHEUU deputy director-general (policy and development) Datuk Punitha Silivarajoo presented the findings from BHEUU’s engagement involving 1,544 participants nationwide in 12 engagement sessions from June to November 2025.

Punitha said 100 per cent of the 1,544 participants agreed that Malaysia needs to have a political financing law, and that 90.3 per cent of the 1,544 wanted this law to be tabled and passed in Parliament before the next general election.

Out of the 1,544 participants, 67 per cent were political parties and grassroots leaders, 17 per cent were government agencies and academics, 11 per cent were non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and youths, and five per cent were from the business sector.

A total of 32 political parties and 69 NGOs and CSOs were consulted in the engagement sessions with 1,544 participants.