ACA Can Investigate Umno Money Politics, Says Najib. But Dare They?

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) can investigate money politics in Umno if there is a breach of the law, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. He said that if the allegation of money politics or abuse of power did not involve contravention of the law of the country, it would come under the purview of the Umno disciplinary board and the party.

"Money politics in Umno is the responsibility of the disciplinary board and Umno itself... but if the corruption and abuse of power involve the law of the country, the ACA can intervene," he told a news conference.

He was commenting on ACA Director-General Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor's remarks that the agency could investigate cases of money politics if there was evidence of vote-buying during party elections.

Asked to comment on a front-page news report Saturday that the ACA was keeping tabs on more than 1,500 individuals in the public and private sectors who live beyond their means, Najib said the government was serious in dealing with corruption. He said the government had entrusted ACA to investigate any complaints on bribery and it was up to the agency to conduct an investigation on any report or allegation.

"If the ACA wants to investigate, we leave it to the ACA to investigate... that's their duty," he said, adding that even if there was information on bribery, every allegation had to be probed before any action could be taken. We can't point our fingers without probing...for sure we've got to have strong evidence," he said.

**** Money Politics!?! Outright bribery you mean! Paying in cash and kind to buy votes of Umno delegates to get elected to a plum post is the real meaning of this so-called money politics. And most of them indulge in it and are up to their neck in graft. So one unlucky VP got caught the last time around. Perhaps he was overzealous in spreading around his 'hard earned' cash from years of toiling and 'struggling' demi bangsa as Negeri Sembilan MB.

The ACA is an emasculated little pet kept for show, as far as Umno bribery is concerned. It may be allowed to flex its muscles on the ordinary graft prone citizen, but not permitted to go beyond that when members of that supra- constitutional entity called Umno commit these crimes within the confines of party deliberations and elections. It is in essence Najib's opinion that bribery within Umno is a no-go zone for the ACA, as 'money politics' is constitutionally removed from their purview, and are subject to the laws of the party which supercede the laws of the land! However the ACA can 'try' if they wish. Yes you can bet the ACA will try anything with these guys. The DG will find himself on a 'lateral transfer' to some storeroom with a distinguished sounding designation pasted on the door.

So chances are after all the many calls, some sincere but mostly faked, for an end to 'money politics,' things will go on as as they have for years and semuanya at the end will be ok for the pejuang2 Umno.