{
  "id": 18596976,
  "title": "No laws exist requiring donations to be vetted, says ex-auditor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/no-laws-exist-requiring-donations-to-be-vetted-says-ex-auditor-18596976",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T23:26:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/07/no-laws-exist-requiring-donations-to-be-vetted-says-ex-auditor"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former MACC oversight panel member Walter Sandosam stated that there are no laws mandating the auditing of donations, highlighting the need for political finance legislation. He clarified that the Umno donation drive to aid former Prime Minister Najib Razak in settling a RM50 million fine was a private initiative, with no coercion involved. Sandosam also emphasized that the government has the discretion to decide what information to release, questioning why Tony Pua, from the DAP, only called for an audit of the funds after they had been collected. He argued that only those who contributed can demand the donations be scrutinized, but pointed out that there was no prior commitment for transparency. Sandosam concluded by stressing the importance of enacting a political finance bill, noting that the government has invited all registered political parties to submit written positions on the matter.",
  "summary": "Walter Sandosam says a donation drive launched by Umno in September to raise funds for the former prime minister to settle a RM50 million fine is a private and personal initiative.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}