KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Parti BERJASA has urged the federal government to expedite the tabling of a Political Financing Act, saying Malaysia can no longer rely on rhetoric and investigations alone to address the issue of foreign political funding.
Its vice-president, Afif Badhrulhisham described foreign political financing as a national security threat that could influence the country’s policies and governance.
The call comes amid renewed public debate after PKR Youth recently urged authorities to investigate allegations involving foreign political funding.
“Foreign money flowing into political parties, undeclared, unmonitored, and unaccountable, can purchase influence, shape public policy, and ultimately hand the sovereignty of this nation to hands we never elected,” Afif said in a statement today.
He said BERJASA supports investigations into foreign political funding but stressed the need for a comprehensive Political Financing Act.
Points to Singapore’s framework
Afif pointed to Singapore as an example of a country that has long implemented strict laws regulating political donations through its Political Donations Act.
According to him, the law bans foreign political donations and requires authorities to record large contributions.
He said Singapore requires annual declarations and imposes criminal penalties for unlawful political donations.
“On paper, it is a serious and enforceable framework, one that demonstrates what a government looks like when it treats political financing as a matter of law rather than a matter of trust,” he said.
Political financing law ‘long overdue’
Afif described the absence of a similar law in Malaysia as a major gap in the country’s governance framework.
He noted that Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional had long promised the bill but never tabled it in Parliament.
“Malaysia still has no equivalent law. And that is the scandal,” he said.
Afif also questioned PKR Youth’s sincerity, saying the current administration had years to introduce such legislation.
“If they were truly serious, this bill would long ago have been placed before the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
Calls for stricter enforcement
BERJASA said the proposed Political Financing Act should ban foreign donations and impose stricter disclosure and criminal penalties.
Afif Badhrulhisham also called for an independent body with powers to investigate and monitor political funding.
“The rakyat are tired of rhetoric. They want action,” he said.
He added that the government should act immediately as foreign influence threatens national sovereignty and public trust.
