[UMNO] Money Politics: "Meludah Ke Langit"

The Sun, Kuala Lumpur

Umno shooting itself in the foot, says MP
Maria J. Dass, 6 Jun 2005

PETALING JAYA: "Meludah ke langit" was how an Umno MP described the party's plans to change the term "money politics" in its code of ethics to "political bribery".

Currently members are charged under the party's laws for money politics but allowing cases to be hauled to court due to the change in term is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot, said the politician who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Suspending membership, and relinquishing the party and government posts of members who are found guilty of money politics is one thing, he said. "But when it involves threat to their parliamentary and state seats what is going to happen? Is Umno willing to drop the nine members with parliamentary and state seats and then contest in nine by-elections?

"This problem of corruption is everywhere -- even in PAS and DAP but they keep it well guarded. Only Umno wants to kill itself," he said.

"More so the party goes after the small fries and allows the bigger ones to get away because the whole disciplinary system itself is corrupted."

The Umno constitution states that party members who are suspended of their membership must relinquish their party and government post.

That vacant post will be filled by a deputy or managed by someone appointed in an acting capacity.