COMMENT If Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had not received RM2.6 billion funds into his account termed as a ‘donation’ for Umno, the subject matter of political funding would not have received major attention.It’s not the amount of money he received, but how he sought to justify the receipt of such an amount and in the process left a trail of disaster – purge of cabinet ministers, sacking the former attorney-general and replacing him with an allegedly compliant person, shattering the investigation launched by the newly-formed task force and pitting the police against certain Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

All these were done at the expense of political, economic and social stability of the country. The drop of the currency, the shrinkage of the country’s foreign reserves and the flight of capital in the region of RM12 billion were the effects of mismanagement of the political administration and the decline of confidence in the country, both locally and externally.

If Najib had been a statesman, he would have gracefully retired from politics by passing over the baton to his deputy. But alas, such graceful departures seldom happen in Malaysia where politics is often seen as a zero-sum game.The proposal for governance on political funding would represent Najib’s own shaky position in the country. It is an attempt by Najib to stay in power, whatever the cost. Drawing up regulations on political funding represents a feeble and nonsensical attempt to white-wash the funds he received in his private accounts.

Najib wants to conjure up an image that he had done no wrong. But the general public are yet to be convinced as to the innocence of Najib.

The attempt by Bersih to organise rallies in the major cities of the country goes to indicate that all is not well for Najib and his supporters. Bersih has made it clear that they are not against the political system, but against Najib.

But why the haste in urging the regulation of political funding when Najib himself has not convinced the public that the funds he received was a form of donation from some unnamed sources in the Middle-East. The receipt of such a colossal amount raise questions about what the money was intended for.

Surely, we have laws in the country that would forbid the receipt of such an amount of money whether one wants to defend it as donation or not. Why did Najib refuse to say at the early stage that money he received was for the political activities of Umno. Why was it an afterthought?

It is beyond reasonable doubt that funds received by Najib were a form of corruption and there are no two ways about it. He might prevent law enforcement agencies from moving against him, but he cannot erase the fundamental fact that he was involved in corruption.

No point blaming opposition parties

There is no point blaming the opposition parties for not favouring regulation of political funds. DAP and PAS have made it clear that the law enforcement agencies are free to check the sources of their funding.

Najib might be the prime minister and he might have all the powers at his disposal, but he cannot run away from the terrible sins he has committed. Governance of political funding is not a bad idea, but the politics behind this proposal is something mysterious and suspicious.

Najib must be reminded that political gimmicks to mislead and side-step the main issue of corruption cannot be postponed forever. Hundreds of committees can be formed for various purposes, but he must admit the fundamental fact that the money he received from mysterious sources was nothing but corruption of the highest kind.

It’s funny that Umno, that often boasts of itself as being a patriotic and nationalistic party, cannot even generate funds for its activities within the country. But now it seems that Umno is allegedly being used and manipulated by some foreign funders.

Perhaps its leaders should want to explain to the public as to who their foreign funders are and why such amount is being given.  Can we say that Umno has lost all its independence and dignity in struggling for Malaysians?

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P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.