IS UMNO SINCERE IN ERADICATING CORRUPTION?
Are we to believe when senior UMNO leaders says that all reports on money politics that have been investigated by UMNO's disciplinary committee have now been resolved and appropriately dealt with? Now, with the nabbing of an UMNO minister's political secretary by MACC on suspicion of money politics supposedly at the behest of his boss (wonder who is he), where then lies the truth, honesty and sincerity in the pronouncement made by these senior UMNO leaders. He was reported to have in his possession more than RM 50,000 when he was nabbed.
Are we not reminded time and again that corruption (UMNO prefers it to be called money politics) is like cancer and despite cutting it off, there is no guarantee that the person infected with it is completely cured. Are they not aware that corruption in the party is so embedded that even a meager sum of RM 200 is enough to satisfy the greed of those within the lower echelons of the party? This is the poor state of UMNO Malays today, where dignity and honour is being thrown out of the window; religious reasoning is muted and greed for the wordly pleasures and power are all that they care for.
One cannot imagine the sort of leadership that will administer the party and to govern the country, if its leaders are those elected on the basis of corruption. And to remain in power, these corrupt leaders will continue to be corrupt in order to be sufficiently wealthy to dole out money as inducement for popularity and support from its supporters. This undeniably has been the modus operandi of our UMNO leaders, and it has now become so entwined that it is impossible to undo the ills that is slowly, but surely, degenerating UMNO to its final resting place.
Just look at Khir Toyo, an asiprant for the UMNO youth leader who seemed to be looking more youthful by the day. He raised the allegation of corruption against Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, and what did he get in return? A series of his own past corrupt practices that is gradually being unveiled and thrown back at his face. He claims total innocence, but the people of Selangor (me included) are no fools to let him off the hook this time. More skeletons will be unveiled from his hidden chest over time and hopefully, more of his cohorts (former exco's in particular) will be dragged out to face justice as well. One should have realised how silent these former exco's are today, and not a whimper of support for their former boss.
This blissful country called Malaysia will be damn if we continue to vote in corrupt leaders (regardless of party) and be damn as well if we do not vote them out. Will UMNO Malays accept this clarion call to damn their corrupt leaders?
Mohd Arshad Raji
Kajang
