SHAH ALAM, 18 Oct: Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to take decisive action against allegations of the practice of money politics involving three incumbent Umno Vice-Presidents.
The President of TI-M Datuk Akhbar Satar said that they made the request after receiving feedback of the occurrence of money politics as the Umno Supreme Council election, which takes place tomorrow, draws near.
He said that a large amount of money has been used and distributed in a ‘special’ programme for the Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Hamidi, the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and the Defense Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin, involving 146,000 votes to maintain their positions.
“MACC should ask whether the source of the money being distributed is commensurate with the financial standing of the individual candidates. If it is money donated to the party or division, whether it is being paid in return for a business favour,” he said.
“TI-M is also questioning the MACC’s role in addressing the issue of money politics happening in Umno because the matter is the party’s internal problem which needs to be addressed immediately,” he said in a press statement today.
Akhbar said, money politics can no longer be swept under the carpet, as it has many implications such as scandals involving huge sums of money and abuses of government machinery for the individual’s political survival.
“If the MACC fails to carry out its job, it will fail the next generation of Malaysians who would have to bear the burden of paying off the hefty loans, possibly over the next 100 years.
“We owe it to them, to leave behind a good legacy and a rich inheritance, not a huge national debt,” he said.
