Published March 16, 2009

Umno under corruption spotlight ahead of key meeting

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(KUALA LUMPUR) A top member of Malaysia's ruling party has been charged with corruption while another has been investigated in the past week as the party heads for a critical annual meeting.

Ms Azalina: Her office has been investigated in a vote-buying case involving her political aide

The new allegations put the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) under the spotlight, but analysts said the moves only touched the surface and suggested corruption ran deeper in the party that has ruled for half a century.

On Friday, Norza Zakaria, a member of Umno's Supreme Council - its highest decision-making body - was charged with two counts of giving bribes worth RM3,400 (S$1,530) to party members in January.

Norza denies the charges and was released on bail pending trial.

Earlier last week, Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said's office was also investigated after her political aide was found with RM70,000 in a haul believed to be linked to vote-buying.

Ms Azalina, who is also contesting a seat on the Umno Supreme Council during the party elections scheduled between March 24 and 28, said she would cooperate with the authorities.

Umno, which has ruled Malaysia since independence, asked the Anti- Corruption Agency last July to help it battle vote-buying ahead of the heated battle for top leadership positions.

Influential former premier Mahathir Mohamad said prime minister-in-waiting Najib Razak needed to pick a corruption-free Cabinet or risk having the party voted out of power, reports said yesterday.

'If Najib becomes prime minister and he chooses people who are known to be involved in money politics, he is signing his death warrant,' said Dr Mahathir, according to the New Sunday Times paper.

James Chin, a political analyst at Monash University's campus in Kuala Lumpur, suggested the latest investigations were only the tip of the iceberg.

'All these are small fishes,' Mr Chin told AFP. 'This is just one way of showing Umno is serious about its anti-corruption drive and also a way to bring back some credibility to the Anti-Corruption Agency,' he said.

While the probes have put Umno under scrutiny, Mr Chin said it would not affect the party meeting, which will see a leadership transition to Deputy Premier Najib.

'The Umno deal is done and Najib Razak is going to be the number one. It makes no difference to the party poll,' he said, as Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi prepares to depart after an unpopular term in power. -- AFP