Anwar Ibrahim’s Reformasi Challenge: Tackling Malaysia’s Money Politics

When Anwar Ibrahim was finally sworn in as Malaysia’s latest prime minister on November 24, he was quick to repeat the promise which helped him win office in the first place: to drive corruption out of politics. "We will never compromise on good governance, the anti-corruption drive, judicial independence and the welfare of ordinary Malaysians," he said hours after he was sworn in, before leading chants of "Reformasi" – his rallying cry for reform during years of opposition.

Cases such as former deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s graft trial and the controversial 1MDB case have shone a spotlight on the darker side of Malaysia’s political financing. In July 2020, the High Court found Najib Razak, who was prime minister from 2009 to 2018, guilty on seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust relating to SRC International, a company connected to 1MDB. He became the first Malaysian prime minister convicted of corruption and is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence. Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor was convicted in September 2022 of seeking and receiving bribes in exchange for a government solar power supply contract. She was given 10 years in jail.

Stamping out corruption will be a major challenge to the new government. The relationship between politics and business is a major source of illicit political funds. Businesses have the desire to build monopolies by offering contributions to politicians who will support their interests. Cronyism is common with some MPs and public officials providing businesses with access to free or subsidized public goods, tax reductions and/or licensing.

In a bid to stop the practice, Malaysia is set to implement a Political Funding Bill to ensure accountability through transparency of political financing or donations. In 2021, the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) released a report revealing some worrying evidence of unauthorized transfers of cash into foundations created by political elites (from both ruling and opposition political parties) under the guise of political donations.

The new law – if passed – is expected to enhance transparency by requiring politicians to disclose the source of their donations and how the funds are channeled to, and managed by, the political party. At the moment, political parties and candidates are under no obligation to reveal where their funding comes from. This transparency is a key plank of political finance regulation which also includes limits on contributions and campaign spending. In addition, the election also saw the anti-party-hopping law finally take effect, preventing politicians from switching parties.

Understanding how political and economic processes work is crucial – in particular the incentives, relationships, and distribution and power dynamics between different groups and individuals. Before the election, many of the then-opposition members of parliament declared their assets and net worth. While this initiative looks good for transparency, the same effort can be seen as having a political agenda. There are calls for politicians’ assets to be made public every year, or when they acquire new assets. Especially politicians in influential positions (such as cabinet ministers).

After all, public officials in Malaysia are obliged to make asset declarations whenever they acquire anything new or dispose of their assets, including their spouses’ assets as instructed by government circular. Asset declaration could contribute to another layer of checks and balances in holding our politicians accountable.