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.”