Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed’s firm and stern action against the “politics of money” is very impressive and most commendable and should be extended to the entire national political system to ensure that Malaysian politics can hold its head high in the world as universally recognised as “clean and honest”, uncontaminated by the corruption of money politics.
I must admit to considerable skepticism when Mahathir first declared “war” against money politics in UMNO party elections, especially as such declaration of intent had not applied to other aspects of the national political system, as in the recent Sarawak state general elections where money politics had been as rampant as in the past.
The developments in UMNO in the past two days however had been very impressive, convincing many skeptics that Mahathir probably means business this time when he declared war against “money politics” in UMNO party elections.
Speaking at the UMNO presidential pre-council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday on the eve of the UMNO Youth and UMNO Wanita elections, Mahathir said UMNO would rather have no leaders to lead the Youth and Wanita wings and to have a void in the party leadership than to have someone corrupt at their helm and urged UMNO delegates to reject outright dishonest and insincere candidates who sought higher posts in the party.
However, it is still too premature for anyone to predict whether Mahathir could really root out “money politics” in UMNO and whether he would have the political will to extend the “war” against money politics to the entire national political system.
Mahathir is himself facing an uphill task in waging “war” against money politics in UMNO party elections, as he has himself admitted that money politics in UMNO have become even more serious than in the past In the past, UMNO delegates were sent on trips to Haadyai, but now the tours were to California!
This has led Mahathir to say yesterday: “Abuse of power and money politics in UMNO are now widespread and this may also affect the government administration.
“If the party is controlled by those who are irresponsible and corrupted, what will happen to the government since they hold government positions? Where does the money come from, if not from bribery?”
The disqualification of six UMNO Supreme Council candidates from contesting for Supreme Council seats is one important factor which has convinced many skeptics that Mahathir is probably serious this time in declaring war against money politics in UMNO, as these six included the Penang Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Mohd Shariff Omar, Penang State Exco member Datuk Abdul Latiff Mirasa, Perak State Exco member Datuk Dr. Abdul Malek Hanafiah, Selangor State Exco member Datuk Mohd Aini Taib, Johore State Exco member Adam Hamid and Member of Parliament for Shah Alam Datuk Salamon Salamat.
UMNO Secretary-General Datuk Mohamed Rahmat said yesterday that Mahathir’s speech reflected his frustration over widespread corrupt and unethical practices still prevalent in UMNO.
The question uppermost in the minds of the people is the government position of the UMNO Deputy Chief Minister of Penang and four UMNO State Executive Councillors in Penang, Perak, Selangor and Johore, for it is clearly untenable for them to continue to hold these government posts when they are found unfit to stand for UMNO Supreme Council elections because of money politics or unethical practices.
How can the Penang State Government, for instance, continue to command public confidence about its honesty and integrity when it has a Deputy Chief Minister and a State Executive Councillor who have been found guilty of money politics or unethical practices in UMNO party elections as to be barred as candidates in the UMNO Supreme Council elections?
Although Mahathir has said that their government positions would not be affected by the party disqualification, the only honourable thing left open to the Penang Deputy Chief Minister and the other State Executive Councillors in Penang, Perak, Selangor and Johore each is to resign their government positions until their appeal against disqualification as Supreme Council candidates had been allowed!
The future of the Datuk Mohd. Shariff Omar as Penang Deputy Chief Minister and Datuk Abdul Latiff Mirasa, Datuk Dr. Abdul Malek Hanafiah, Datuk Mohd Aini Taib as State Exco members in their respective states would be an important indicator whether Malaysian politics has reached a stage where a full war could be declared against political corruption and “money politics”.
I have political differences with Mahathir, but where he has done right and good for the people and country, he can be assured of my fullest support!
(9/10/96)