No new laws would be enacted to scrutinise political donations, use of government machinery or politicians making financial pledges during elections.

In a written parliamentary reply, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) that there were adequate existing laws to deal with such issues.

azlan Nazri cited the Federal Constitution, Section 5 of the Election Offences Act 1954 and Election Rules (Conduct of Elections) 1981 as among these laws.

"(Such laws) are sufficient to ensure elections run smoothly, transparently, fairly and cleanly and are not tainted by fraud and corruption," said Nazri.

Tan’s question comes in light of accusations thrown at both BN and Pakatan Rakyat involving making election pledges with public funds and abusing government machinery during by-elections.

Massive Sibu pledge

None, however, were more grandiose than Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's pledge for a RM5 million flood-mitigation project for Rejang Park residents during the recent Sibu by-election in Sarawak.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has vowed to probe the matter, but there has been no status updates since.

There has also been proposals under Najib’s Government Transformation Plan (GTP) for the enactment of laws to scrutinise political funding.

The proposal suggests for politicians and political parties to disclose to the relevant agencies their sources of funding and their expenditures to ensure transparency.