This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on January 30, 2019

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad vowed yesterday that the government “will find a way” to regulate political funding in the country, after launching the five-year National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP).

Under the plan, one of the key initiatives of the 115 outlined is to introduce a legislation to govern political funding, which will classify lobbying as a punishable offence.

Dr Mahathir said the government is now discussing how political funding can be regulated to ensure it would not be regarded as a bribe for political parties and the government.

“Political parties need funding, if not they cannot function. These days, the cost of being involved in politics is quite high. So we must have a source of funding, and ensure it is legitimate and recognised by the government.

“It is a difficult process but we will find a way,” Dr Mahathir told reporters after the launch.

The Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) director-general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed reiterated that discussions are underway on the proposed law with all stakeholders, including political parties.

“Among the concerns considered is, ‘Can a person receive a donation individually because someone [else] wanted to donate to him or her, and not necessarily to the party?’ We are also looking into issues of amount as well as processes.

“There will also be a punitive clause for situations like if you don’t disclose the funding and so on. It is all being discussed,” Abu Kassim told reporters separately.

Also being discussed is whether foreign donations should be allowed.

He expects a few more meetings to be convened before presenting the feedback to the cabinet. The drafting of the law will be left to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, he added.

Asked for a time frame, he said he is hoping to conclude discussions on the proposed law “as soon as possible”.

“Political parties have been very cooperative in terms of discussion and giving suggestions. In principle, they agree to have this legislation in place to ensure discipline and transparency,” Abu Kassim added.

The NACP, developed by the GIACC in cooperation with other government agencies, is a comprehensive five-year plan detailing the government’s overall planned efforts to overcome issues of governance, integrity and corruption.