The council said it was concerned about the increasing news of alleged corruption, and reforms must be implemented immediately.

In a statement, it cited the testimony of Sidek Hassan in Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial, where the former chief secretary to the government said he believed his appointment to 1MDB’s board of advisers was just to “increase” his salary.

It also noted that a witness from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) had told the High Court in Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial the company had made payments of between S$200,000 and S$520,000 a month, which the defence later described as a “political donation”.

Yesterday, the trial was told that UKSB had also made contributions of between RM50,000 and RM200,000 to Khairy Jamaluddin’s Rembau Umno division.

“The government must take firm action against those involved in corruption, including expediting the political funding bill,” the council said.

“These cases of corruption do not only involve high-profile political figures but also key figures of the civil service.”

Last month, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption had agreed in principle to table such a bill.

Home minister Hamzah Zainudin, however, called for more discussions involving a team of experts to study the proposed mechanism for a political funding law.

The PH presidential council also reiterated its stand that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should be placed under the Parliament’s jurisdiction.