Umno supreme council contestant Nur Jazlan Mohamed has denied that he lost his bid for a seat in the party’s highest decision-making body because of vote-buying, after having warned of ‘money politics’ a month before the polls.
Nur Jazlan (left) clarified today that the money he had referred to was the cost of mobilising machinery and not cash for votes.
"My loss was because I was less capable in terms of machinery than those who hold government positions,” he said when contacted today.
"They (minister and deputy ministers) can go anywhere to campaign but I cannot afford it, Machinery is expensive. It's paying money to people to campaign, not paying for votes.”
Under the current system, Nur Jazlan said it is very difficult for newcomers like himself to win because the "cost of entry" is high.
Nur Jazlan in his warning in September had estimated the cost of securing one division at RM200,000 each and put the price for a vice-president’s post at RM13,000,000, in having to secure the support of 64 divisions.
However, Nur Jazlan conceded that the "cost of machinery" was much higher as the results showed winning 64 divisions alone was not enough to secure victory as vice-president.
"I was just making an assumption but eventually it turned out they needed more than 64 divisions," he said.
Nur Jazlan (left) clarified today that the money he had referred to was the cost of mobilising machinery and not cash for votes."My loss was because I was less capable in terms of machinery than those who hold government positions,” he said when contacted today.
"They (minister and deputy ministers) can go anywhere to campaign but I cannot afford it, Machinery is expensive. It's paying money to people to campaign, not paying for votes.”
Under the current system, Nur Jazlan said it is very difficult for newcomers like himself to win because the "cost of entry" is high.
Nur Jazlan in his warning in September had estimated the cost of securing one division at RM200,000 each and put the price for a vice-president’s post at RM13,000,000, in having to secure the support of 64 divisions.
However, Nur Jazlan conceded that the "cost of machinery" was much higher as the results showed winning 64 divisions alone was not enough to secure victory as vice-president.
"I was just making an assumption but eventually it turned out they needed more than 64 divisions," he said.
'It's corruption'
Mohd Zaidi Md Zain, the defeated candidate for the Serdang division, held a different opinion, bluntly labelling the practice as corruption.
In a Facebook posting yesterday, he said: "Looks like my offer for leadership change in Serdang Umno has been defeated by offer of money in envelopes by my opponents at the last minute.
"Forgive me if I conclude that political corruption still shackles the sensibility of Umno delegates.”
A day before the election, held on Oct 19, former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad had lamented that money politics is still rampant in Umno.
His son, Mukhriz, who contested for a vice-president’s post, was defeated.
Despite repeated claims of money politics, the Umno disciplinary board hasrubbished such allegations.
Chairperson Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said the allegations were mostly lies and demanded proof.
Mohd Zaidi Md Zain, the defeated candidate for the Serdang division, held a different opinion, bluntly labelling the practice as corruption.In a Facebook posting yesterday, he said: "Looks like my offer for leadership change in Serdang Umno has been defeated by offer of money in envelopes by my opponents at the last minute.
"Forgive me if I conclude that political corruption still shackles the sensibility of Umno delegates.”
A day before the election, held on Oct 19, former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad had lamented that money politics is still rampant in Umno.
His son, Mukhriz, who contested for a vice-president’s post, was defeated.
Despite repeated claims of money politics, the Umno disciplinary board hasrubbished such allegations.
Chairperson Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said the allegations were mostly lies and demanded proof.
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