'Buying' votes for Dr M - Nazri adds a twist
Malaysiakini
Sep 12, 2006

There were allegations that money had changed hands to secure votes for former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad during Saturday’s contest to elect delegates for the Kubang Pasu Umno division.

The latest twist came from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, who has been a vocal critic of Mahathir.

The minister told Reuters this when asked to comment on Mahathir’s allegation that Umno members were paid not to vote for him.

"Don't just talk, show proof. There are also allegations that people were giving money to vote for him (Mahathir). This is mere speculation," Nazri was quoted as saying.

In a related development, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi described Mahathir’s allegation as being ‘very serious’.

He said Umno had the mechanism to deal with this issue and the Kubang Pasu division might be asked to submit a report on its election.

“(Kedah Umno state liaison committee chairperson) Mahdzir Khalid dan Kubang Pasu Umno division chief Mohd Johari Baharum know more (about this issue),” the premier was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Abdullah also revealed that he had told Mahdzir and Johari not to bring in outsiders to get involved in the affairs concerning the Kubang Pasu Umno division.

“What I remember saying (to them) is not to bring outsiders to disturb the Umno members in Kubang Pasu.

“That is what I told them. I told Mahdzir and Johari not to bring others in, no need for other divisions, This is Kubang Pasu’s story, let Kubang Pasu make a decision,” he said.

The premier was speaking to Malaysian reporters in Helsinki where he is attending the just concluded Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem6).

Lodge complaint

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak urged Mahathir to lodge a report with the Umno disciplinary committee if the former prime minister has proof of bribery.

"If there's any complaint on money politics, it should be lodged with the disciplinary committee accompanied with specific proof or information that can be used as the basis for an investigation by the disciplinary board.

"We definitely want to wipe out money politics as a commitment by the party leadership, but we cannot act without any proof or formal complaint to the disciplinary board," he said.

However, Mahathir said previously that he would not report the matter because he had no faith in the disciplinary board.

Commenting on this, Najib said: "The Umno disciplinary board is an independent body and is not under the party leadership. The disciplinary board has done its work all this while and we know that even those holding high posts in the party had been found guilty."

He said the procedure was that there had to be a formal complaint for the allegation to be investigated and anyone from the Kubang Pasu division could make the complaint and it need not be Mahathir himself.

Asked on another statement by Mahathir that he would continue to speak out against any decision taken by the government which he felt to be wrong, Najib said there was no way anyone could stop Mahathir from talking.

"He feels strongly about certain things. There is no way we can stop him from saying those things. The important thing is that we are able to convince the people that the policies we had taken and the decisions we had made are in the best interest of the nation and people.

"That is what matters in the final analysis because you can't expect us to agree with whatever he (Mahathir) says, but this does not mean we do not respect him as a person. We certainly respect him as a person, but that does not mean the government will agree with whatever he says or wants," he added.