Despite the thumbs down from Pakatan Harapan lawmakers, the national consultative committee on political financing will still go ahead with its 32 recommendations, soon to be submitted to the cabinet.

“Yes, we will just go ahead. (It is) because we think it (the proposal) is something good for the people,” the committee’s chairperson, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low told Malaysiakini.

“They can reject (the proposals), (it is) up to them. But we still have to propose to BN because they are in the government.”

His response comes after PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli said that the recommendations were a diversion from the real issue, while DAP parliamentarian Anthony Loke said the proposal to make election spending limitless was an attempt to legalise money politics in elections.

Low, however, stressed that having regulations on political funding was something that the people want.

“We are of the very few countries that have no regulation on political financing but just look at the increase of money politics – it’s not healthy.

“It is important to curb money politics and at the same time we realise that we can't have a campaign without financing,” he added.

Adding that the committee had consulted “so many people”, Low said the recommendations carried the voice of the people.

“The opposition can say they don't take it, then what suggestions do they have? It cannot be status quo, right?”

The committee, in its report, had also proposed that anti-victimisation mechanisms for political donors be put in place.

Asked how this would work, since authorities are under BN, Low pointed out that authorities are also under state governments.

“It depends on the government in power.

“The best is of course for the procurement system or administration process to be based on a transparent manner,” he said.

'Limits subjective'

Meanwhile, Low said the committee proposed scrapping spending limits on parties and candidates because any limits placed would always be subjective.

Some people, he said, would need more to campaign, while others might need less.

“So we go on the principle that it should not restrict genuine people from spending and receiving money to support their campaign. At the same time, the disclosure has to be made in a very transparent manner,” he said.

“The key issue is whatever you receive or spend has to be transparent and is given to the controller. So how can it be money laundering?”

The political financing report was unveiled by Low at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The recommendations include banning foreign sources from making cash donations to political parties and politicians, and prohibiting firms that receive government contracts from making any kind of political contributions.

The committee was formed on Aug 14 last year after increased interest in political financing following the revelation of RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank account.

Najib has consistently denied wrongdoing and insisted that it was a political donation from the Middle East. The attorney-general also cleared Najib of any wrongdoing.