Should political parties’ donors be protected? Azalina says issue among those being studied

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Malaysian Minister Azalina Othman Said, in a press conference today, revealed that the protection of political party donors from anti-corruption investigations is one of the technical aspects being examined before introducing a political financing law in Malaysia. The issue, among nine parameters being fine-tuned, includes the scope of the law, supervisory body, donation sources and limits, prohibition on foreign donations, traceable fund receipt, reporting and auditing, and offences and penalties.

Azalina emphasized the need to consider foreign donors' involvement, as some countries prohibit their donations, while others require disclosure. She also questioned whether donors would be required to inform the source of their money, which might discourage donations. Azalina suggested that political parties might offer donors receipts but stressed the necessity of studying protection measures, as donors might be deterred if pursued after making donations.

She also mentioned that foreign donors should have a specific process, potentially involving a select committee or Parliament, to avoid potential influence. Azalina urged the Legal Affairs Division to obtain official views from political parties on the proposed law, which, after evaluation from multiple perspectives, would be presented to the Cabinet for final decision-making before being brought to Parliament for voting.