The Tamesis
March 4, 2026
Petaling Jaya – Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reforms) M. Kulasegaran said the Political Financing Bill aimed at curbing corruption in political funding will be introduced and will include all voices once a comprehensive review is completed.
He said the draft of the bill was still being finalized by the Legal Affairs Department of the Prime Minister’s Office due to extensive engagement with stakeholders.
“Of these, 12 state-level engagement sessions were attended by 1,544 participants, including people from federal and state government officials, political parties, village development and security committees, chambers of commerce, business associations, NGOs, academia and youth groups.
“This demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening democratic practices involving public participation, increasing transparency and ensuring that every policy and legislation enacted takes into account the realities and needs of the people,” he told the House of Commons yesterday.
When contacted, several MPs called for the bill to be expedited so that enforcement of the law can begin before the next general election.
“Without clear rules, elections tend to turn into a battle of who has the deepest pockets, rather than who has the best ideas,” said Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman.
“Expediting this process before the 16th general election will ensure that all candidates and parties compete on a fairer basis.”
She spoke of the need for a strict ban on any form of political financing by foreign entities.
Additionally, she said there must be a cap on the amount that donors can contribute each year to prevent any single entity from buying political influence.
Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said he fully supports the bill “as it will be a game changer in eradicating corruption and restoring the people’s trust in politics”.
Pasir Nasional MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said transparency must be maintained to ensure the source of funds is above board.
Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said laws need to be enacted to control the entry of foreign donors into political parties.
“Otherwise, this could lead to foreign interference in the direction of the country,” he said.
