“We have to declare all visits, training and benefits we receive from foreign parties as this has been implemented and has become the normal culture in all developed countries.

“Although they may not appear as political funds, these are also efforts to influence the actions and stand of our MPs,” the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers (BNBBC) chief told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

He felt that MPs can be exposed and influenced by foreign powers.

Shahrir was commenting on the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Paul Low Seng Kuan that political donations from foreign interests and sources should be prohibited to safeguard against foreign influence on local politics.

When asked if Prime Minister Najib Razak, as the head of the country’s administration should set an example by naming the donor of the RM2.6 billion donation, the Johor Bahru MP was confident Najib would do so once the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had tabled its findings in Parliament.

“You are right in the sense that it becomes an ethical issue. Whether it is bad for the integrity of the leader, I think that is a subject to debate.

“As far as we know, he (Najib) had used it (the donation) purely for political (reasons).

“What he did not use he returned.

“He said in Parliament, he can answer it. He will give an answer once the matter is finalised and all investigations are done.

“He may have to respect the right of the donor who might not want it to be disclosed.”