Transparency International-Malaysia is dismayed by the bold claim by veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah that the present measures to curb money politics are not workable and that the wrongdoings in the electoral system were rampant (The Star, Nov 3).
TI-M believes that money politics is the “mother of all corruption”. When practised, money politics leads to vote buying and the abuse of power and the trust of the rakyat as well as supporters of all political parties. In short, money politics brings destruction and decadence to the country’s transparency, accountability, integrity and even democracy itself.
Money politics is now apparently big time with millions being corruptly spent by candidates for party and national elections.
What a waste of massive funds which could be diverted to the welfare and well-being of the less fortunate people in our country, especially during this international financial crisis and Malaysia’s own economic slowdown!
Holding conferences on integrity can mean little and can be regarded as even counterproductive to the rakyat, if tougher measures are not taken by the Government and the ACA to fight corruption and particularly to combat the money politics that is now taking place at this time.
The future of our country will depend on our political will to urgently and severely arrest the excesses and abuses of money politics.
As our Deputy Prime Minister has also said, the rakyat will support policies that are fair and just to all races, and this would include the quick control and eradication of the “mother of corruption”, which is money politics.
All political parties are therefore urged to fight money politics for the sake of the rakyat and our beloved country’s future progress or we will surely and steadily decline as a nation. No proud Malaysian wants Malaysia to become a failed state!
TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATNAM,
President TI-Malaysia.
mi1: How about our DPM?
PEOPLE'S POWER
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