KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — A weakness in the Umno code of ethics enables a member to escape disciplinary action for demanding a bribe for himself in return for supporting any candidate in the party elections, according to party disciplinary board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail.
Suggesting an amendment to the code, which was just amended in March, he said there was no provision to penalise a member who sought bribes in cash or kind in return for his vote or support.
“If possible, we should amend (the code) and include this matter so that those who ask for money are also guilty. Now there is no such provision,” he told Bernama news agency.
Article 5 of the code specifies an offence related to a bribe under three categories:
* Misuse of authority directly or indirectly by oneself or through another to induce or force someone to vote or not vote for anyone in the party elections, either for oneself or for another;
* Give, loan, ask or agree to give, loan, ask or offer or promise to obtain money or favour for any party member or another person with the intention to induce that individual to vote or not to vote in any party election for oneself or another; and
* Give or receive or permit family members or any person to give or receive for oneself directly or indirectly to or, from any Umno member gifts, items or benefits to induce any party member to vote or not to vote in any party elections for oneself or another.
Several senior Umno officials confirmed that those implied as committing these offences were candidates and agents for candidates or delegates, and not members who sought bribes for themselves.
Political observers feel that the proposed amendment is relevant because many grassroots members claimed that the incidence of members seeking bribes for themselves was widespread during the recent Umno branch and divisional meetings.
Umno legal adviser Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, in an interview with Bernama last month, acknowledged having heard of allegations of many members having approached candidates for bribes in return for their votes.
This development, he said, had placed several of the candidates in an awkward situation in their quest to garner sufficient nominations to qualify to contest party positions.
Nevertheless, several Umno leaders, while welcoming the proposal for the amendment, feel that it is unnecessary to have specific provisions for the disciplinary board to act against members who violate party discipline because it can act at its discretion as it has done in several cases of indiscipline in the past.
Johor Umno Youth chief Datuk Razali Ibrahim cited the suspension of Datuk Ahmad Ismail which was carried out at the discretion of the board after the Bukit Bendera Umno Division chief was found guilty of having made a statement of a racially sensitive nature not long ago.
“There is no provision in the code of ethics for the offence (committed by Ahmad). However, action was taken because an offence is an offence.
“So, don’t tell us that owing to an absence of provision in the code, action cannot be taken because, in the issue of political bribery, the giver and the receiver are at fault,” he said.
Razali, who is the Member of Parliament for Muar, said that in the case of Umno members seeking bribes for themselves, they could be penalised under the provision of abuse of authority — delegates abusing authority as voters.
“The proposal (for the amendment) is good but, if you ask me, the amendment is not important because of more importance is penalising the offenders,” he said.
He also said that the proposal could raise adverse consequences for the disciplinary board and Umno.
“I fear that there are too many statements on wanting to do so many things but when people do not see action, they will begin to ridicule. Besides, the statement by the disciplinary board also brings about a perception that political bribery is widespread in Umno,” he said.
Cheras Umno Division chief Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee, who agreed with Razali’s view, said the disciplinary board should focus on resolving the complaints of indiscipline with greater speed and transparency.
“I do not see any problem with the proposal so long as it brings good to Umno but let not the party be despised and ruined because such a statement (on the amendment) implies that the party is overly corrupt,” he said.
He feels that the problem of political bribery in Umno is not as bad as it is perceived to be by the people because the menace only involves a small number of members.
Syed Ali did not rule out the possibility of a culture involving delegates seeking bribes.
“As for me, it is up to the candidate. He (or she) knows that political bribery is wrong and he should report the delegate seeking bribes from him. End of story,” he said.
The Umno elections for posts in the supreme council are scheduled for March 24 to 28 next year. The post of president has been won unopposed by deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had declined to seek re-election as president. — Bernama
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