ACA Allowed To Investigate Money Politics In Umno, Says Abdullah

SERDANG, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is allowed to investigate cases involving money politics in the run up to the Umno election in December.
Abdullah, who is also the Umno president, said however they concerned certain cases which enabled the ACA to take action.
"The Umno headquarters had decided and allowed the ACA to come in and investigate," he told reporters after launching the Malaysian Agricultural, Horticultural and Agro-Tourism (MAHA) Exhibition 2008, here today.
He said this when asked to comment on a report that a 'Datuk' who is an Umno division head, and the division secretary had been interrogated by the ACA yesterday following allegations that they were involved in money politics.
The duo, who are in their 50's, were said to have offered several Umno branch leaders RM1, 500 each to secure nominations for the divisional election in October.
He said he had not been informed about the person involved and it was possible that there were certain aspects that required the ACA to come in.
Earlier, the ACA had detained a candidate for the post of the Seremban Umno division head, Mohd Nor Awang, who was suspected to have offered money to an Umno member to vote for him at the branch meeting.
Mohd Nor was detained when he was offering RM500 to the Umno member in Seremban.
Commenting on the statement by Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the practice of money politics was rampant at branch meetings and that such practice was placing Umno in a dangerous situation, Abdullah said: "I have also heard that there were many such stories." "It's pointless. A leader who buys support is not a genuine leader," he said.

tunku : well, aca should be allowed to investigates whichever is reported to them. they should investigate about the recent event where pm hosted delegates from divisions.they were given some money, kain pelikat plus 5 star accommodation.we know the case will not go further.when pak lah was asked by reporters about it his response was "Once we have decided on the matter, then we would let ACA investigate." this is what you call "daylight robbery", right infront of your eyes.i guess pak lah should advice himself and his son in-law who is doing all sort of thing now to get nominated for youth chief.