KUALA LUMPUR: THOSE claiming that the Umno leaders who resigned were paid have been asked to come forward to back their allegation.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said: “We welcome cases involving money politics. Come to us and lodge a report.
“But please make sure you can back it up with evidence,” he told the New Sunday Times.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on Friday cited money politics as the reason for the exodus of Umno leaders and the party’s defeat in the 14th General Election.
He said despite the defeat, those in the party continued to practise money politics.
“Anybody who has money can control the party members,” he was quoted as saying.
Mohamad said that many of his comrades had “forgotten their principles as politicians and true party values and beliefs that they chose to follow power, authority and wealth instead”.
While most of those who left Umno cited “loss of confidence” as their reason for leaving and that they needed access to development funds, Umno insiders have suggested that some of them had been lured by the promise of monetary “reward” for leaving the party.
Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya denied benefiting from payouts or having negotiated his departure from Umno.
“I left Umno on my own accord,” he told NSU yesterday.
A Friday report on portal Malaysia Today claimed that a report had been lodged against Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for allegedly bribing delegates to vote for him in the party election four months ago.
The article suggested that the report had the names of witnesses and came with evidence, including images and documents.
Sources in Umno had suggested to NSU that there were many in the then-tight race who had resorted to “buying votes”.
Shukri, when asked on this, said he could commit to an answer only tomorrow.
The first wave of exodus happened in Sabah on Wednesday when nine of 10 Sabah Umno assemblymen, five of six MPs, 21 of 25 division chiefs and two senators announced their departure from Umno.
The second wave of departure on Friday involved six MPs. They are former domestic trade, co-operatives and consumerism minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut MP), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Shabudin (Tasik Gelugor), Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fake (Sabak Bernam), and Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah).