Bersih urges amendments to Election Offences Act on funding

 

Bersih has urged the government to amend the existing Election Offences Act, 1954, in response to PAS leader Sanusi Nor’s claims that up to RM1 million is needed to campaign for parliamentary seats in each constituency.

The election watchdog criticised Sanusi’s claims as tarnishing the credibility of politicians, as it gives off the impression that they are likely to overspend and exceed the budget outlined by existing laws.

“We wish to remind all parties, especially political parties, that Section 19 of the Election Offences Act 1954 outlines an expenditure limit of RM200,000 for Dewan Rakyat elections, and RM100,000 for state legislative assembly,” Bersih said in a statement today.

Malaysiakini’s checks found that the RM200,000 guideline mentioned in the Act had been established in 2002, more than two decades ago.

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In its statement, the group also urged that Sections 23 and 24 of the Act be amended to impose compulsory audits for election campaign spending by political parties and their respective candidates.

PAS election director Sanusi Nor

At present, Section 23 of the Act requires candidates to return and declare their election campaign expenses, while the subsequent section demands public disclosure of their deposit returns.

“The question of the sources of political parties' funds is an issue that is as important as how they spend those funds, generally in the run-up to the election season and especially when the election campaign is underway.

“Sanusi’s public disclosure should make the public aware that political parties require significant amounts of funding. However, existing laws are not robust and comprehensive enough to regulate the sourcing and spending of such funds,” the group added.

Monitor political donations

The organisation also called for the establishment of a special committee to monitor political donations, and for the establishment of a Political Financing Act to impose penalties on offending parties.

They cited a previous suggestion by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPGM) on Political Financing to cap donations at RM50,000 from private individuals, and RM100,000 from corporations.

Previously, in June, Bersih chairperson Faisal Aziz urged the government to legislate a political financing law, following the revelation of several high-profile Sabah politicians implicated in a mining license corruption scandal.

Faisal reminded the government that they had the power to urgently enact such a law, given its control of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Calls for the Political Financing Act were also backed by PKR Youth, who urged the government to announce a timeline for drafting the law.

Earlier this year, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the government may not be able to pass a law to regulate political financing before the 16th general election due by February 2027.

She explained that this was due to the need for thorough studies and input from various stakeholders, particularly the public. - Mkini