Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s impassionate tears at the close of his presidential address at the UMNO General Assembly yesterday calling on UMNO delegates to reject corrupt leaders had a certain effect on the outcome of the UMNO elections, both for the three elected UMNO Vice President’s posts and 25 UMNO Supreme Council positions, but not all the influence that the Prime Minister and UMNO President had wanted.
This must be the reason why Mahathir was very guarded in his reactions after the results for the UMNO elections were announced, merely acknowledging that his keynote address against the “politics of money” had “more or less” an effect, but keeping open the option of investigations and actions against those who had won through corrupt campaigning methods.
Mahathir’s speech yesterday, undoubtedly one of the most impressive in his political career, was so powerful that it moved not only UMNO delegates but many who were following his speech on live telecast but the very fact that such a powerful and impassionate speech could not produce the full results which Mahathir wanted showed how serious and deep-rooted the problem of money politics has assumed in UMNO.
Mahathir was giving a standing ovation at the end of his speech by the UMNO General Assembly, and his speech was immediately lauded by UMNO and Barisan Nasional leaders who were interviewed by the mass media.
What Malaysians find cynical is that Mahathir’s speech against corruption and money politics in UMNO was praised by all UMNO leaders and delegates, for if these reactions represent their sincere feelings and commitments, then who was Mahathir referring to in his reference to “corrupt leaders” and how could the problem of corruption and money politics in UMNO be so serious and deep-rooted when there is such an astonishing unanimity of agreement among UMNO leaders and delegates in opposing corruption and money politics?
The unanimous praise and support by all the leaders of the other Barisan Nasional leaders present at the UMNO General Assembly yesterday was also the cause of cynicism, as if this is the first time they realised that corruption and money politics have become so serious in UMNO, and even more disconcerting, as if corruption and money politics do not exist anywhere else except in UMNO!
Mahathir’s impassionate speech and tears at the UMNO General Assembly yesterday would be in vain unless it represents a new political crusade and full commitment to declare war against corruption and money politics, not only in UMNO but in the entire body politic in Malaysia.
Mahathir’s war against corruption and politics of money in UMNO must remain an UMNO affair, which is no business for the DAP to get involved. However, if Mahathir is prepared to extend his war against corruption and money politics to the entire national political system, the DAP pledges to give full and unstinting support.
(11/10/96)