Silencing the money that talks in politics

Money politics may be a way of life in Sabah, but the Political Financing Bill could put an end to it.

“TIDAK mau, tidak mau, tidak mau,” a man’s muffled voice came from just outside the election nomination centre.

The man was wearing a bush jacket with four pockets and two “gentlemen” were pushing wads of cash into all four pockets. He kept saying “tidak mau” (don’t want), but made no effort to return it to the givers.

It was the 1990 elections, and the man had turned up to challenge a popular Sabah leader for a seat in the interior of the state – and those stuffing the money into his pockets were trying to convince him that it was pointless to take on the incumbent leader in his stronghold.

The drama went on for almost two hours before nominations closed at 11am. The man did not file his papers.

Realising that many were watching, he quickly told journalists he was working for another prominent politician and was going to report the case to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), the precursor to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

It’s not known how much money was shoved into his pockets, but the man may have just walked away with about RM25,000, if not more. Until today, there has been no known report lodged with the ACA or MACC.

The Sabah leader, who was in no threat of losing his seat, was returned unopposed but could have saved himself a few thousand ringgit by letting the man stand.

Most other mainstream parties stayed out, knowing full well they did not stand a chance.

As for the man, he became known later for offering shell political parties for takeover or providing party tickets for wannabe candidates – which is an enterprise in itself in Sabah during elections.

Money and politics go hand in hand in the state.

There is a lot of ingenuity in moving cash for elections and it takes different shapes and forms, some unthinkable for the man on the street.

From an election eve “cash bombardment” of voters to candidate buyouts, money politics has become a way of life in Sabah over the decades.

Bags and suitcases filled with cash moving around elections are a real thing, but many seasoned politicians have been able to cover their money trail very well.

Many election petitions have been filed, but almost all have been thrown out due to a lack of solid evidence.

However, post-election coffee shop chatter will give an indication how much was paid for votes. It can range from RM50 to even RM500 or more depending on the seat and the political personalities involved.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government initiative to put a check on political funding through the proposed Political Financing Bill is bringing a ray of hope, though.

Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, in disclosing plans for the Bill to be tabled in October, said it would put an end to undisclosed “stacks of cash” funding and make all parties transparent and accountable.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah political analyst Romzi Ationg said the political funding law was necessary for fair elections as well as to minimise the “deficit” in political integrity.

However, the law itself must be complemented with strict enforcement.

“I am not 100% convinced of the ability of this proposed law to minimise the integrity deficit in politics,” said Romzi, adding that in Sabah, money politics has destabilised the state time and again.

“I personally saw one politician giving out cash the night before the final day of campaigning and I was unhappy.

“The proposed law requires strong support from all sectors to prevent ‘cash bombing’. Without such support, the problem will not end or be minimised,” he said, adding that dirty politicians will try to find ways to beat the system.

Sabah Law Society (SLS) president Roger Chin felt the law was long overdue as there was a dire need for regulations on how parties and politicians receive and use money through the disclosure of their source of funds and donations.

“It will be a good start to curb corruption. Such a law would set limits on candidates and parties’ expenditures, enhance public disclosure and regulate political financing. This will hold political parties and politicians accountable and prevent misappropriation, bribery, fraud or abuse of power.

“All funds should be channelled strictly through political parties, and not through individual politicians, to distinguish genuine political donations from paybacks for favours to donors,” he said.

Chin added that the proposed law should also address the issues of “unseen illicit funds” used to bribe voters – infamously known as cash bombing.

He suggested the proposed law require all political parties and their candidates to submit a proposal on the estimated amount needed for campaign activities during any election.

“This way, there would better monitoring of where the money came from and how it was spent.

“A candidate should be disqualified, even if he or she won, if an excess amount of money is spent beyond the estimate.

“To further discourage misuse, any amount above the initial estimate could be charged to the candidates,” he added.

Others, however, felt the proposed law should only require those who donate large sums of money to be identified.

“A threshold should be set for any donation. For any amount above that, the source must be declared,” said Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, adding that the threshold amount could be anything above RM100,000.

He suggested Malaysia alternatively adopt the German system of political funding where the government pays parties based on the percentage of votes it obtains.

Lawyer-cum-politician Chin Teck Min also said many people do not want to be identified as donors for fear of repercussion.

“Political donors usually like to be anonymous. It is difficult to raise funds if all donors have to be identified,” he said, adding that some were known to provide donations to both government and the Opposition.

A well-regulated system under the proposed Bill could probably make political funding transparent, but old habits die hard. Politicians may come up with new tricks to get around the law.