MILLIONS spent to buy votes, Dr M slams Umno

Many people who did not deserve to win in the recent Umno party election emerged victorious because of the money they splashed, claims former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"We are told that they've eliminated corruption during the recent Umno election. I am not convinced.

"I think there was a lot of money involved, going into the millions and loads of people who should not be getting votes were getting votes because of the money they spent," Mahathir said in a speech in Putrajaya this morning.

Mahathir said this in his keynote speech 'Current political trends and their impact on the economic and social direction of Malaysia'.

He lamented that such corrupt trends were also seen in general elections where voters wanted to know what they could get in return for their votes.

The people were more patriotic in the past and such thought was unheard off then.

"Initially we were all very nationalistic, we thought of the country... and the first few general elections were not much affected by corruption.

"But the country has come to a stage are we accept corruption as part of our way of life and culture.

"So buying votes becomes a culture and it becomes the objective of the election. It is no loner about the well-being of the country," Mahathir said.

Relating his personal experience, Mahathir said supporters were upset when he won his seat in a general election uncontested.

"Because there will be no money for nasi lemak or cigarettes or allowances as the deal is done, so they would prefer to see a contest where there is some work to do.

"When there is contest, you need to go around to persuade people and candidates are willing to fork out money, so the minds of the people have become corrupted," he said.

'Corruption worsens'

Mahathir also gave a gloomy take on the future, saying that corruption would likely get worse.

In order to overcome corruption, the topmost leaders in the country must themselves be clean.

"Or else the ministers will say, 'how can you ask me not to be corrupt when you are worse'?" he said, but stressed that he was not referring to Malaysia as an example.

Mahathir suggested that one way to curb corruption in government would be to reduce the period required for government approvals (for projects and contracts).

This, he explained, would cut down time where government officers could possibily solicit for money or favours in exchange for approval.

"For as long as you allow government servants, inclduing ministers unlimited time to do their work, then obviously they are going to be offered some payment for (expedited) services and that leads to corruption," Mahathir said.

Later, about Mukhriz Mahathir losing his bid for vice-preisdency in the Umno party election, Mahathir said his son had no choice but to accept defeat.

"This is democracy. He lost... Even if he wants to complain about bribery, it is too late now," he said.

At a dialogue session that followed, defeated Umno supreme council candidate Saifuddin Abdullah echoed Mahathir words.

"I lost the supreme council (race) and that was because of money politics lah," Saifuddin said when asked about his defeat.

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