Abdullah: ACA free to probe Umno money politics

Abdullah Badawi being briefed by Fama chairman Datuk Zuraidah Atan at the Maha exhibition in Serdang today. - Bernama

SERDANG, Aug 12 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is allowed to investigate cases involving money politics in the run up to the Umno party elections in December.

Abdullah, who is also Umno president, said however they concerned certain cases which enabled the ACA to take action.

"The Umno headquarters has decided and allowed the ACA to come in and investigate," he told reporters after launching the Malaysian Agricultural, Horticultural and Agro-Tourism (MAHA) Exhibition 2008, here today.

He said this when asked to comment on a report that a “Datuk”, who is an Umno division head, and the division secretary had been interrogated by the ACA yesterday following allegations that they were involved in money politics.

The duo, who are in their 50s, were said to have offered several Umno branch leaders RM1,500 each to secure nominations for the divisional election in October.

He said he had not been informed about the person involved and it was possible that there were certain aspects that required the ACA to come in.

Earlier, the ACA had detained a candidate for the post of the Seremban Umno division head, Mohd Nor Awang, who was suspected to have offered money to an Umno member to vote for him at the branch meeting.

Mohd Nor was detained when he was offering RM500 to the Umno member in Seremban.

Commenting on the statement by Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the practice of money politics was rampant at branch meetings and that such practice was placing Umno in a dangerous situation, Abdullah said: "I have also heard that there were many such stories."

"It's pointless. A leader who buys support is not a genuine leader," he said.

"We want someone to be supported because of his capacity, capability and his contributions towards the party's struggles. Money is not the yardstick, and we should not make any mistake in this matter," he said.

Asked on the ACA report lodged by Selangor Umno veteran leader Datuk Mazlan Harun last week alleging that there was an abuse of power in the transition process between Abdullah and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he pointed out that the allegation was baseless.

"This is an important matter decided by the Umno Supreme Council. It's not a private arrangement between Najib and I," he said.

On the preparation by the Barisan Nasional machinery to face the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26, he said everything was proceeding smoothly.

-TMI

I was not informed of Sabah ACA case(because i'm sleeping at the moment): PM

(The Star) - The Anti-Corruption Agency has stepped in to act on allegations on money politics within Umno on a case by case basis, Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

He said he was not informed about Sabah ACA investigating the case involving two Kota Kinabalu Umno branch leaders who were alleged to have offered bribes but there might have been certain aspects that led the agency to act on it.

“I was not informed who they are. Maybe there are certain aspects involving the ACA,” he said when asked to comment on Sabah ACA probing two Kota Kinabalu Umno branch leaders allegedly offering RM1,500 to each delegate in order to get nominations.

Dont you see how busy i am?

Abdullah said Umno headquarters had decided to allow the ACA to step in to investigate complaints on money politics within the party.

On Aug 2, Negri Sembilan ACA arrested a Seremban Umno division leader Mohd Nor Awang for allegedly offering RM500 to a branch chief to nominate him as division chief in the coming party polls.

Abdullah also brushed off claims that he and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak were involved in abuse of power in the power transition plan.

He said the plan was decided by party supreme council and announced to members.

“It was not that Najib and I were quietly conspiring. It was an important decision by the supreme council and announced to members so that they would understand.

He was asked to respond to veteran Selangor Umno leader Datuk Mazlan Harun’s ACA report against him and Najib on alleged abuse of power.

The report was lodged based on a letter written by Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno division head Kapt (R) Datuk Zahar Hashim which accused Abdullah and Najib of “political corruption of the highest order”.

Asked to comment on party vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin saying that money politics was rampant in the party, Abdullah said: "I have also heard a lot of stories on this matter. There must be some truth to it. Otherwise, how can the stories be so widespread.

“I hope those involved will stop such acts. It’s meaningless to seek popularity through money politics. There is no meaning to it. It’s not genuine if one gains support and victory because he used money politics.”

He said one should be given support based on ability, capability and contributions that were proven to help party struggles and the people.

“That is what we want to be the measurement for one to be given the trust to hold certain positions in the party that provides hope for him to succeed in the party or the government.

“Money is not the measurement. If we use money politics, eventually we will lose out. If that is so, only the rich can hold positions. The poor who do not have the money cannot become leaders. It is not that they are not capable but because they don’t use money.”

He also expressed hope that those who had been punished for money politics not to repeat their offence.

On whether those who had received punishment should be given the opportunity to contest in the party polls, he said: "There are limits to punishment relating to money politics. After they have served their sentence they are free to contest and move around like before.”