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