27 years on, Umno still talking about money politics

 

I was somewhat intrigued by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan’s plea to delegates attending the party’s general assembly last night to “kill” money politics and for laying the blame on it for the party’s poor showing in the 15th general election.

“It (money politics) has not only caused Umno to lose (in GE15), but it has also made our party weaker and less resilient,” Mohamad said when opening the Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri meetings at the assembly.

“To all Umno members… understand that money politics is ugly, disgusting and vile… for our religion, our customs and our practices. Umno is only for those who are clean and love their nation. We must kill money politics before money politics kills Umno.”

Umno won only 26 seats at the Nov 19 general election, its worst performance ever.

Money politics, of course, is a euphemism for corrupt practices and Umno has earned notoriety for it.

There is no doubt the perception that Umno is corrupt was a major contributing factor in the poor showing at the polls. It didn’t help that party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is facing numerous corruption-related charges.

In fact, both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional played this tune to the hilt. Even Umno parliamentary candidate Khairy Jamaluddin spoke about the need to clean up the party while campaigning for the Sungai Buloh seat.

The tragedy is that Umno has been grappling with money politics or corruption since the early 1990s and the situation has not improved. Many feel it has only gotten worse.

In fact, I remember that money politics was the biggest issue debated at the 1996 Umno general assembly.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was then Umno president, told delegates to reject candidates contesting for party posts who had paid money for votes. Anwar Ibrahim, the current prime minister, was Mahathir’s deputy in Umno then.

Zahid, who was then Umno Youth chief, said the wing would propose a resolution on anti-money politics to be included in the party constitution so that all members would strictly abide by it.

“We fully support the points raised by Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his opening address. In fact, our proposal on the ban on money politics is a follow-up to Dr Mahathir’s call,” he said.

Zahid went on to say that Umno Youth would discuss the matter further with Mahathir and Anwar, adding: “It will be our main agenda to ensure that the party is rid of all forms of corruption which will not only weaken Umno if left unchecked, but would also destroy Malay unity.”

It’s 2023 now and Zahid is Umno president. And ironically, facing corruption charges.

Even in 1996, Jerlun Umno Youth division chief Ismail Tayib noted that money politics was “a tired subject” that was often discussed but not acted upon by members.

He added: “We have been talking about masyarakat madani (civil society) but it looks like we are turning into a masyarakat mau money (money hungry society).”

Badruddin Amiruldin, the then MP for Yan, noting the dubious new found wealth of some Umno members, quipped: “This friend tripped while coming out of his new Mercedes … he was not used to the car yet.”

The most telling comment, or rather indictment, came from Selangor delegate Mufti Shuib who said if the party was sincere in wanting to rid itself of money politics, most members, including those in the Supreme Council, would likely have to be arrested.

It’s 2023 now. What happened all these years?

If Umno could not get rid of money politics from the time in 1996 when it became the biggest topic of debate, what hope is there now? Especially so when a strongman, Mahathir, was then leading the party, assisted by reform-minded Anwar.

In fact, about a week after the Umno assembly, replying to a question in Parliament, Mahathir called on other political parties to emulate the example of Umno which, he said, had taken serious measures to ban money politics.

“We took steps to prevent not only money politics but also `materialistic corruption’ or the abuse of religion,” he boasted.

Mahathir has, over the years, railed against corruption in Umno, becoming even more strident after leaving the party. For instance, before the 2008 general election, he said “the whole country” knew that Umno leaders were using money (to buy votes).

“Come the general election, they (the voters) will reject them because they are corrupt. Not all (are corrupt) but the majority use money. Everyone knows that,” he said.

However, some critics have said Mahathir’s policies and manner of holding power contributed to the emergence of money politics.

In 2008 too, Umno’s Rais Yatim said “the majority” of party members were more interested in making money out of the party election than in voting for the right person.

The fact is, even strong-willed Mahathir was not able to stem the tide. Neither was Abdullah Ahmad Badawi nor Najib Razak, and now Zahid.

So, delegates attending the current assembly have some serious thinking to do. If they just continue to talk about corruption and don’t act decisively on it, the issue of money politics will again crop up at the Umno general assembly in another 27 years’ time. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.