The group, which comprises former senior civil servants, said a review of political financing was also part of the reforms needed in the country.

“We in G25 hope that a political funding bill will receive urgent attention by the government so that it can be passed without much delay,” G25 said in a statement.

“This law is among the top institutional reforms that Malaysia must undertake to restore domestic and international confidence in the parliamentary democracy practised in Malaysia.”

Ten days ago, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political Financing had also submitted a motion to table a private bill on political funding to Parliament.

The bill, according to G25, was aimed at stopping the unethical and corrupt practice of political donations to Malaysian politicians, including those made by foreign donors.

G25 said the public had become more concerned about such “unhealthy practices” after hearing the evidence in an ongoing high-profile court case, regarding payouts made to political leaders, including senior Cabinet members.

On July 25, Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd’s former administrative manager David Tan revealed during Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial that it had made millions of ringgit in political donations to several politicians, notably to Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, former transport minister Chan Kong Choy and former international trade and industry minister Ong Ka Chuan.

Tan had previously also named former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal, former foreign minister Anifah Aman, former home minister Hishammuddin Hussein and former deputy foreign minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican as among those who had received money directly or through proxies.

All of them have since denied taking any donations from the company, saying they were ready to be investigated over the allegations.