Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya and Syaza Syukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said the government and opposition have both shown little real interest in introducing restrictions on access to unregulated funds.
Awang Azman said incumbent elected representatives benefit from discretionary funding, especially in marginal seats or constituencies with a large number of voters.
“In short, those profiting from the status quo have every incentive to stall,” he told FMT.
Awang Azman noted that despite discussions dating back to 2009 and draft proposals in 2016, no bill has ever been tabled. Promises of reform, he said, remain hollow without firm leadership.
“Very clearly, there is a lack of political will on both sides of the political divide.”
Syaza said Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional have all benefited from the current unregulated system and lack real incentive to pursue meaningful reforms.
She said the issue of regulating political financing had been around for years, and power had changed hands several times. Yet the law remains stalled.
Syaza said she did not see any party as truly serious about enacting such a law, as these parties had more to lose than gain from transparency.
“Parties which are in power or had at one time been in power want to keep it this way,” she said, adding that it is only natural for parties that become governments wanting to remain in power.
Sabah PKR Youth had earlier called for a comprehensive law on political financing at both federal and state levels.
Its information chief, Hilmie Milus, said Sabah had long struggled with money politics and patronage, which eroded good governance and public trust.
In March, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said it would be difficult to pass a political financing bill before the next general election. She said more feedback was still needed, particularly from civil society.
Awang Azman said a strong political financing law could help prevent abuses like those seen in the 1MDB scandal. “Clean politics requires transparency, and unchecked funding corrupts the democratic process,” he said.
Syaza also questioned whether there was enough public pressure to move the issue forward. “We talk about transparency and equality, but do Malaysians really care about this? Unless the public demands reform, the politicians will keep stalling.”