Go for the jugular, ex-MPs say on PN election funding
SHAH ALAM - Authorities need to 'go for the jugular' and investigate the Perikatan Nasional (PN) election funding, says ex-MPs.
Former Klang member of parliament, Charles Santiago called on the Election Commission (EC) to investigate PN's source of funding for the 15th General Election (GE15).
"It was clear that they were showing off that they had alot of money and their public show of
unthrifty spending during the election.
"So where are they getting these funds from? People have been talking about this since the GE15 campaign," he told Sinar Daily.
The EC, Santiago said, had clearly noted that political parties need not spend more than RM200,000 for parliamentary election but it was obvious that the PN was spending more than that.
"As we all know, the EC has already set the conditions that each party need not spend more than RM200,000 for federal elections at the parliamentary level but they were spending more than that.
"The EC should look into where they have been receiving their funding," he urged.
Agreeing with Santiago, Maria Chin Abdullah also requested that an investigation should be initiated to probe this matter a soon as possible.
Commending the efforts to implement Political Financing Act, the former Petaling Jaya MP said the current will put this act into force as soon possible.
"I hope the new unity government will implement this Act soon. It has to be discussed seriously in the next parliament sitting for the sake of transparancy and the people," she added.
Maria said the Act should essentially require election candidates and elected representatives to declare their assets.
"Not just assets their assets but also where the funds come from," she added.
Previously, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin refuted allegations that the coalition used revenues from gaming businesses to help finance GE15.
