Corrupt UMNO

UMNO is in a state of turmoil. No one in UMNO knows what to do with their current condition. When a suggestion comes their way they swat it away like flies that seem to annoy them (but note, a fly won’t fly at you if you’re not dirty and/ or filthy).

Even though I personally do not agree with Rithauddeen’s suggestion of abolishing the wings of the UMNO party, I understand what he means. I myself, having seen the outcome of the PRU-12, have noticed the unruly and undesired custom of corruption within UMNO. Corruption is not something that you are born with; it is something that is instilled.

From what I gather, Rithauddeen’s suggestion is in view of wanting to eradicate corruption from the very core of UMNO, and that is the wings (especially Pemuda/ Putera). To climb up the ladder of UMNO, you somehow would have to maneuver your way throughout the wing and as the old warlords of UMNO itself is known to be either scandalous or outright corrupt, Ritahuddeen’s fears stems upon the fact that these youngsters, like it or not, would eventually become corrupt due to the force of the practices and norms in UMNO itself - brought about by their predecessors, the current UMNO heads.

Even so, I think clipping the wings would do no good. If corruption is to be eradicated in UMNO it is the main party itself that needs reconstructive surgery. If the UMNO warlords do not change their ways and do whatever it is necessary for change, then the youngsters would only look up to them with cash and dollar signs in their eyes (you know like those cartoons).

If changing their lifestyle is impossible, then they should force it upon themselves by amending their own constitution. The obvious change should be on the election process for the party’s top posts, whether it is for the central election or divisions. The quota system itself would breed corruption. If anyone in UMNO is allowed to challenge for party posts and everyone can vote, who in their right mind would pay for votes or have the means to do so?

But then the election is just one matter which even if the system is amended it would not guarantee total eradication. There are contracts and tenders and many more powerful tools for corruption that in order to reverse and reconstruct, it is the people themselves that requires changing. Of course, by people here I mean the warlords.

On a sourer note, the 50 UMNO youths that showed dissatisfaction against the MACC and UMNO’s disciplinary board are only undermining the effort of eradicating corruption. If they are going by reports saying that the ones under custody are abused, then they should probably wait for the investigations by the police instead of taking someone’s word of mouth to be the absolute truth. Now that MACC has counter filed a report, doesn’t that show something is amidst? As for Rithauddeen, he was only giving his opinion on the whole situation; no one needs to be offended by it.

After years of being an image of corruption and scandals, this year might be the year that UMNO clean itself up. To do that, MACC and UMNO’s own disciplinary board should be able to do their work without fear or favor. Protesting against the 2 for doing their job (minus any illegal and unnecessary force) is just putting the breaks on a moving train that’s already behind schedule.