Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he has told the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party to come to a conclusion on punishing lawmakers involved in a fundraising scandal that has rocked Japanese politics.

Kishida said at the party's annual convention at a Tokyo hotel on Sunday that he had directed LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu to come to a conclusion.

The prime minister said: "The scandal invited suspicion and serious mistrust in politics. I apologize to the public as party president."

As for punishments against party lawmakers involved in the scandal, Kishida said the party will respond strictly by comprehensively taking various factors into consideration and through discussions within the Party Ethics Committee.

Kishida said the matters to be looked into will include the amount of revenue unregistered in political funds reports, the lawmakers' political background, including the posts they have held in the past, and whether they have fulfilled accountability.

Kishida also expressed the intention to take the lead in reforming his party and politics. He said he intends to launch what will be called "political reform dialogue," in which party executives, including himself, will travel around the country to seek public opinions.