Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng blasted Umno’s warped logic in claiming that money politics, an euphemism for vote buying, does not amount to a corrupt practice.
“If money politics is not corruption, then theft is not a crime,” said Lim at a press conference after launching the opening of a city hotel in Georgetown today.
“What’s the standard used by Umno to distinguish money politics from corruption?” asked Lim.
According to him, Umno appeared to be in a state of denial on the issue.
He suggested that the lack of action to eradicate political corruption was the main reason behind the voters’ rejection of BN in the last general elections and the subsequent four consecutive by-elections in Peninsular Malaysia.
“Umno leadership should first find out the reasons for the people to reject the ruling coalition. It should correct the wrongs,” said Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general.
Lim also pointed out that Gua Musang parliamentarian Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was “dead spot on” for criticising Umno in applying double-standards when punishing those practicing money politics.
Razaleigh has questioned Umno for retaining Mohd Ali Rustam as Malacca chief minister despite having found him guilty of money politics.
Mohd Ali was barred from contesting the deputy president post in last month’s party polls. However, his party membership was not suspended.
Razaleigh, a former party vice-president, recalled that Umno had suspended former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad for three years and pressured him to relinquish his government post after he was found guilty of money politics four years ago.
“It shows Umno has not been consistent in punishing those involved in money politics,” said Lim.
‘Non-Malays are ingrates’ comment slammed
Lim also ticked off Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for suggesting that non-Malays were being ungrateful in rejecting BN candidates in the recent Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections.
Muhyiddin in an exclusive interview with Utusan Malaysia said that BN failed to secure their votes even though the ruling coalition had provided hefty funds for the development of vernacular schools.
“Why should the people be grateful to elected representatives?” asked Lim, who is Bagan parliamentarian.
“The elected representatives like Muhyiddin are the ones who should be grateful to the people for electing them.”
Stressing that Pakatan state governments have also funded vernacular and religious schools in their respective states, Lim said unlike BN, the coalition does not politicised such funding for electoral gains.
He criticised BN of only allotting money for non-national schools only during elections, stressing that education funds should be channeled to needy schools all the time.
“Education and its funding shall not be politicised. They shall be institutionalised. It’s the government duty (to fund education),” said Lim.
Malaysiakini
13/04/09
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