KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Politicians could easily find themselves facing corruption cases if there is no political financing law in Malaysia to regulate financial aid given to them, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said today.
Azalina, who is also Umno information chief and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), however made it clear that she was saying this in her personal capacity as an MP and lawyer.
“I, personally think as a lawyer, if there is no Political Financing Act, many politicians will be charged with corruption — easy, simple. People giving aid are considered as corruption because the intention is not explained, receipts are not given, not informed how much aid is to be given.
“That’s why if there is no Act for political financing, I see that there will be many more problems in this country. This is my personal opinion, not as Umno information chief. This is my personal opinion as Pengerang MP,” she said during her speech at a convention here.
Azalina was giving a speech to officiate the Political Financing Convention 2026, which was organised by the PM’s Department’s legal affairs division (BHEUU) together with think-tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and the International Islamic University Malaysia.
In her speech as minister, Azalina acknowledged the reality that money is required for politics.
She said the real question would be where these funds come from, how it is received and used, and how far this process is transparent and accountable.
“Without a clear framework, political financing can open the way to conflict of interest, abuse of power, political corruption and undue influence in the decision-making process,” she said.
She added that there is a need to find a balance between transparency and accountability with the need to ensure that there continues to be democratic space and legitimate political participation.
In her speech, Azalina said the current government believes that the era of “government knows best and government knows all” is over, and that it is important to involve the public and stakeholders when drafing a new law.
She spoke of the importance of consulting political parties, as they will be the stakeholders and “users” of the proposed political financing law.
Later during a press conference, Azalina proposed that the BHEUU obtain written confirmation by every single registered political party in Malaysia about their stand on having a political funding law.
Azalina said the political parties could provide their written decision through their secretary-generals on their supreme council’s or highest leadership’s decision.
She added that she could then state how many political parties agree or disagree to having a political financing law when she presents the proposed law to the Cabinet.
“I’m suggesting to BHEUU to get an official response of all the political parties in our country.
“So I’m suggesting as a minister, please get an official reply from political parties because I also want to know which political party agrees and disagrees. Or maybe they have better suggestion, I don’t know,” she said, adding that she would be very surprised if parties that talk about anti-corruption do not agree to such a law.
