Ku Li calls for guidelines on political donations

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said there should be guidelines on donations to political parties, NGOs and the media.

He said this would prevent “political corruption” and ensure the country’s sovereignty is not compromised.

“Whatever we do, we must be seen to be fair and just – and the agencies concerned must act without fear or favour,” the Gua Musang MP said in a statement yesterday

Tengku Razaleigh said the public should understand the difficulties that Malaysia’s agencies face in charging people for corruption. The country’s legal system, he said, places the onus on the agency concerned to secure evidence to prove corruption before anyone can be convicted.

While Tengku Razaleigh said it was essential that whistleblowers come forward to provide evidence, there should be “more creative but legitimate ways” to prevent and deter corruption by improving prosecutors’ chances of success.

He also called on the relevant agencies to place greater emphasis on eliminating private-sector corruption, saying that politicians and civil servants often complained that they were perceived as the ones involved in corrupt practices – which he said was “unfair.”

“What about corruption in the private sector? The agencies concerned should give greater attention to combating corruption in the private sector.

“But the difficulty is in getting the documentary and other evidence needed to charge anyone.”