Reopen last year's money politics file of Khairy

This scene of Pemuda members chanting rasuah! rasuah! rasuah! on the newly elected Ketua Pemuda UMNO will long be remembered as the darkest moment of the Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO. And, this is the image that represent the contemporary Pemuda UMNO Malaysia, an important wing of any political organisation.

Unless something drastic is done, this ghost will continue to haunt and could lead to the demise of UMNO in the long term. As it is, the impact and attitude of Pemuda led by an arrogant, corrupt and destructive leader is already felt at the gassroot.

The Galas by-election saw that arrogance and stubborness translate to the local Pemuda defiant to the Divisional leadership and unwilling to operate and lend a hand to the election machinery.

It is time UMNO nip the problem in the bud and this piece of information should help. If they are serious about reforming the party, the ball now is in Najib and Muhyiddin court. They should investigate and take necessary action.

In July 2010, my friend Syed Akbar Ali wrote a blog posting entitled Time for Khairy has to go.

The presence of Khairy in the UMNO political scene, coming with the rise of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has caused much damage to UMNO politically, Malays economically, and youth socially.

His followers maybe making grandeur claims and singing praises of Khairy but they cannot single out any of Khairy's contribution, when asked upon.

The youth wing, be it Pemuda or Puteri, is rising to the level of incompetence. When Tan Sri Tengku Rithauddin call to close-up Pemuda and Puteri, he is saying the wings are irrelevent.

An irrelevent youth wings spells disaster for the party in the long term.

The underlying reason for the malaise in Pemuda is Khairy Jamaluddin.

His appearance in the corridor of power, with the rise of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Oct 2003, has caused much damage to the party and country that one source close to Najib did say sometime back that it will take him 10 years to repair.

Bloggers have expressed their view on the need to rid off Khairy to no less than the Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The exact words is "heads must roll" before the people, irrespective of race, are willing to give UMNO a chance again. Until then voters will remain irrational in the their judgement and decision becasue the trust factor is no more there.

Bloggers, media, and supporters have done their part to expose the weakness of Pakatan Rakyat and bring back the people to the middle. UMNO must do their part to show they are serious and have changed to get them to their side.

Again, "heads must roll" before anything will significantly happen. Let us not be fooled by the double win to believe that confidence is back. Galas and Batu Sapi are also won on the back of problems within the opposition.

UMNO is due to announce something drastic for the party towards the end of this month. If UMNO is truly sincere, something drastic has to be done about Pemuda UMNO or the party will suffer in the upcoming general election.


Now to roll the head.

Prior to winning the Ketua Pemuda post, Khairy's name surfaced for allegations of money politics. There were other long list of names. I have a copy of the list but it will take a while to dig up through the heaps of documents.

Khairy was let go with only a warning by UMNO's disciplinary committee but he was allowed to continue to run. Dato Ali Rastam and many others were not so lucky. They were disqualified from running for offices.

However, strangely there was no stern action from the disciplinary committee. No membership stripped or anyone expelled. Their positions in Government remain. Many from within UMNO and outside viewed the inaction as a signal that UMNO was onloy rhetorical and not serious in combating money politics.

After much talk of combating money politics, what happened to the disciplinary committee? Why were they giving excuses after excuses?

Many had figured it right the first time.

They speculated that Abdullah Badawi wanted to save Khairy and he was willing to go back on his public statements on money politics. They were right but they were still missing some information.

On the night before the disciplinary committee met the next day, Abdullah had called one key member of the committee to ask specifically about Khairy's case.

He told Abdullah that Khairy's case was a no hoper. Not only that, there were other cases with witnesses and video evidence of him threatening and harrassing youth delegates.

Abdullah asked how to save Khairy's skin. He replied that it is difficult especially when there were a list of cases at their disposal. If Khairy is allowed free, then many will scream unfair.

To solve that, Abdullah suggested that "lepaskan semua." Meaning none will be subjected to any stern action. A suggestion from party president and Prime Minister, which has still few months to go, is as good as directive.

Now that Abdullah is gone and this secret is out, action must be taken. UMNO must investigate this.

This blogger knows who but Najib and Muhyiddin must do their part. They must meet up privately with all members of the discplinary committee. Do it ala Tun Dr Mahathir on Anwar's first sodomy.

If there is any truth, the party have every right or if not the members have every right to demand to reopen the cases and proper treatment be done.

With the evidence brought forward and proper action taken, hopefully voters could be convinced that UMNO is serious about combatting money politics. Without any heads rolling off the guillotine, don't be too sure voters will give it to UMNO.

If they are not willing to give to Pakatan Rakyat, they might not come out to vote or spoil the votes just like in 2008. Independents running may benefit as the garbage can for protest votes.

If the head rolling on the ground is Khairy's, rest assure that votes will definately roll back in. The major stumbling block to the undecided new young voters is gone.

Why the need to protect him anymore?