The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) today urged the government to regulate political funding before the next general elections.

Ideas CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan today urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to act on the idea before it is “shelved again”.

“As amendments to certain laws are needed to regulate political financing, the government should start the process soon before the idea is shelved again,” he said.

Wan Saiful was responding to Najib’s statement recently acknowledging the need for regulating political financing in the country.

“The government should look seriously into the recommendations on political financing made by Transparency International-Malaysia and ensure that political financing should already be regulated before the 14th general election,” he said.

Wan Saiful also stressed that the government should focus on giving more independence and more powers to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a bid to combat graft.

“Equally important is to give more independence to the MACC to be able to hire and fire its own personnel, instead of relying on the Public Services Commission under the executive arm of government,” he said.

"The prime minister’s announcements have made the celebration of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day on Dec 9, 2014 here more meaningful,” he added.