LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
Since UMNO is the backbone of the federal government, every Malaysian who cares about the future of the nation would be deeply perturbed by persistent media reports of rampant ‘money politics’ or corruption in the run-up to the party election in March 2009.
Corruption in UMNO elections is not new. It is a cancer that has grown over almost three decades. I remember writing an article on this in the Far Eastern Economic Review on 9 July 1984 entitled ‘ A Call for Clean Politics in UMNO’.
In spite of all the pleas of UMNO leaders, it appears that the cancer has got worse. One would have thought that after the 8 March electoral debacle both UMNO leaders and members would have learnt a lesson. On the contrary, some seem to have come to the conclusion that since the party is sinking it is better to make as much money as possible now before it is too late!
Perhaps the move by the UMNO Disciplinary Panel to rope in the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate allegations of vote buying will have some impact. Perhaps there is something else that UMNO can do. All those who are involved in contests for Supreme Council seats from the 3 candidates for the Deputy Presidency down to the 73 vying for ordinary Council membership, including candidates for the Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri wings, should take a solemn pledge in the name of Allah that neither they nor their agents and representatives will indulge in corrupt practices in their quest for places in the party leadership and hierarchy. The UMNO secretariat can arrange for this oath-taking which should be witnessed by the public, and televised.
Of course the real solution to the sort of corruption that prevails in UMNO is to eliminate the delegate voting system in the party, as suggested by a few UMNO leaders themselves.
If delegates do not have the power to choose the Supreme Council, there will be no buying and selling of votes. All UMNO members should vote directly for all Supreme Council positions. This will give greater meaning to democracy within the party. Intra-party polls of this kind will strengthen the grass-roots. Delegates can still play a role in formulating and debating party policies at the annual general assembly but they will not have the power of the vote.
Unless there is the political will to initiate drastic changes, many observers fear that UMNO will decline rapidly, and die. Three immediate factors make the situation more challenging than ever before. There is much more competition for senior positions in the party this time around which could have serious repercussions for intra-party unity. The campaign period on this occasion is longer than before and could aggravate intra-party feuds and factionalism. A major economic crisis is looming on the horizon and it would be disastrous if the UMNO leadership is distracted by internal political shenanigans.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar,
Kuala Lumpur.
10 November 2008.