PUTRAJAYA (July 9): The Malaysian government is looking into how other countries organise and conduct political funding as it prepares a bill to regulate it, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This is because current practices in Malaysia have resulted in political donation becoming an avenue for corruption, said Dr Mahathir at a press conference today.

"Political funding is necessary. Elections cost money, so where is the money going to come from?

"Obviously the [party] members and supporters will provide the money. But it gives hope that they will be favoured by [the recipients]," he said.

An alternative, Dr Mahathir said, can be seen in countries like Germany where the government provides political funds to all political parties.

"We are currently studying that [method]," said Dr Mahathir, adding that the government is looking away from the concept of lobbying, as commonly practised in the US.

A bill on political funding is expected to be tabled by the Parliament, but no timeline is given by the Prime Minister.

The Pakatan Harapan government and government agencies are actively investigating corruption cases in the country, as part of institutional reforms promised by the political coalition during the recent general election.

It has resulted in the seizure of assets held by politicians, including cash — which some of them claimed were funds owned by the political parties they belong to.