Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today the future of Umno depends on its leaders and their seriousness in getting rid of money politics in the party.
“If they choose to be serious to clean up Umno, then there is a future for Umno. If not, they are going to lose the next election,” Mahathir told reporters after the launch of Wisma Sahoca (Sultan Abdul Hamid Old Collegians Association) at Kelana Jaya here.
Mahathir said Umno's disciplinary board had an opportunity to clean the party's name and restore public confidence in the party but it failed to deliver because "they did not do their task properly or completely".
Mahathir, who is also permanent president of Sahoca, said the decision by the board was unfair.
He then cited the example of the board finding two persons guilty of the same offence, but were given different punishments, "which goes against the principle of justice".
“I believe many of them are lawyers, they (board) ought to know.”
Although Mahathir did not mention names, he was obviously referring to the board finding Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Umno youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin guilty of breach of ethics, but the former was barred from contesting the deputy president's post while the latter was only given a warning.
Asked to elaborate, he said: “Some are found guilty but they can carry on. Some were found guilty, (but) cannot contest but can hold position in government; some are known to be involved in corruption but are cleared.”
However, he did not mention who he thought was known to be corrupt.
When asked if the board should allow an appeal from Mohd Ali, Mahathir said the move will further erode public confidence in the board and the party.
Asked if he was confident with the next batch of Umno leaders, he bluntly said he was not, with "most of them".
Mahathir said he received an invitation to attend next week’s Umno general assembly although he had quit the party. He said he might be “going as an observer” but would not confirm his attendance.
The Sun
20/03/09
“If they choose to be serious to clean up Umno, then there is a future for Umno. If not, they are going to lose the next election,” Mahathir told reporters after the launch of Wisma Sahoca (Sultan Abdul Hamid Old Collegians Association) at Kelana Jaya here.
Mahathir said Umno's disciplinary board had an opportunity to clean the party's name and restore public confidence in the party but it failed to deliver because "they did not do their task properly or completely".
Mahathir, who is also permanent president of Sahoca, said the decision by the board was unfair.
He then cited the example of the board finding two persons guilty of the same offence, but were given different punishments, "which goes against the principle of justice".
“I believe many of them are lawyers, they (board) ought to know.”
Although Mahathir did not mention names, he was obviously referring to the board finding Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Umno youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin guilty of breach of ethics, but the former was barred from contesting the deputy president's post while the latter was only given a warning.
Asked to elaborate, he said: “Some are found guilty but they can carry on. Some were found guilty, (but) cannot contest but can hold position in government; some are known to be involved in corruption but are cleared.”
However, he did not mention who he thought was known to be corrupt.
When asked if the board should allow an appeal from Mohd Ali, Mahathir said the move will further erode public confidence in the board and the party.
Asked if he was confident with the next batch of Umno leaders, he bluntly said he was not, with "most of them".
Mahathir said he received an invitation to attend next week’s Umno general assembly although he had quit the party. He said he might be “going as an observer” but would not confirm his attendance.
The Sun
20/03/09
Red herring...Mamak Det himself said that his choice for DPM is Muhyiddin! Ali Rustam don't speeke and understood Ingleesh, so not DPM material! His comment is just a smokescreen to cover his happiness that Ali was TKOed. If UMNO is corrupt party then he is the corrupter! He corrupted UMNO!
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