A lesson or two on what is money politics by Dr Khir Toyo…

There is a vast difference between what is political money and money politics, according to the former Selangor Menteri Besar.

Before anyone accuses him of being involved in political bribery which he, of course, denied, please gather your facts and please do not confuse these two terms - wang politik and politik wang.

Mohd Khir, who is vying for the post of Umno youth chief and who has bagged the second highest number of nominations, says that people should learn to differentiate between “political money” (wang politik) and “money politics” (money politics)

“In politics, we need to spend money for various expenses, especially for logistics."

According to him, in the United States, political parties will ask for political donations from companies and individuals to finance their campaign activities.

“This is not bribery," he said.

"Bribery is when you give in cash or in kind, like promises of datukships or positions, in return for support.”

Dr Khir said this in an interview with the Star in response to allegation that he is involved in money politics – the contender who is said to have spent the most during the divisional meetings.

“That’s total rubbish,” he said.

“When I was mentri besar, I received only my salary and nothing else.

“The Selangor state government dealings during my time were always transparent. I do not believe in money politics or other types of political bribery.

“Please do not insult the delegates’ intelligence. They vote based on ability and leadership qualities, and not because of money.” Read the rest of the interview here.

Youth Chief: Mukhriz holds the lead in seven states...

… with 40 nominations, including five in his home base of Kedah. (Malaysiakini read here and here )

By the end of the first weekend round of Umno Youth divisions meetings on Sunday, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the MP for Jerlun, had 40 nominations, more than the minimum 38 he needed to contest the Umno Youth post.

Yet just a week ago, Mukhriz was in second or even third place after deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and another contender former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Khir Toyo. But the trend seems to have changed since.

Khairy, (picture right) the son-in-law who is his closest rival, trails with 19 nominations, still 20 short of the necessary number to become eligible for candidacy. The only state clearly backing him is Kelantan, which has handed him four out of five nominations to date. (Read here - Khairy calon ‘pedigree’ meleset menjadi ‘under dog’?)

Nominations for the deputy Umno Youth chief in his home state of Negeri Sembilan - which is said to be solidly behind him - also went to Mukhriz.

To date, three divisions Rasah, Jelebu and Jempul in the state – have nominated Mukhriz to the post.

The Negri Sembilan results must sting for Khairy, the (in)famous son-in-law of Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi..

Mukhriz is also leading in Kedah, Terengganu, Sabah, Pahang, Penang and Johor.

However Mukhriz and Khairy received four nominations each from Perak

Khairy, who has a stronger standing in the rural divisions, seems to have a tough time in the urban division meetings where members are more informed and critical.

"In Setiawangsa, there were jeers from the floor when Khairy’s name was proposed and few were surprised when Mukhriz won with 53 votes against 29 for Dr Khir and 7 for Khairy. Khairy had an even tougher time in Johor although he secured three nominations there. In Tenggara, delegates shouted tak mahu! when his name was proposed. In Batu Pahat, he got only three votes compared to 95 for Khir and 186 for Mukhriz. That is the kind of scenario he is facing in some places." – Jocelyn tan – The Star Tuesday October 14, 2008

Despite the setback, however, Khairy is expected to obtain the nominations to contest the Umno polls next March.

Dr Mohd Khir is still in the running with 12 nominations up to now. He may finish third but is expected to make the cut.

Four of his nominations have come from his home state of Selangor, which also gave Mukhriz three nominations and Khairy one.

Dr Mohd Khir has obtained one nomination from Johor, Sabah and Penang respectively.

The fourth hopeful, Zahidi Zainul Abidin, has only one nomination - from his Padang Besar division in Perlis. He is likely to stay in the race to raise his national profile, even if nominations don’t come his way.

Mokhzani quits Umno

Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir has quit the party following the footstep of his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir who did so on Monday.

Dr Mahathir quit Umno two days ago and called other members to follow suit to show their vote of no confidence in party President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s leadership.

Mokhzani said he hoped Abdullah would step down as the party president before more Umno members leave the party in protest.

Mokhzani, a member of the Sungai Layar Hujung Umno branch for 22 years, submitted his letter of resignation to the Merbok division on Tuesday.

Asked if he would rejoin Umno if Abdullah steps down, Mokhzani said “Insya Allah (God willing)”.

“For the time being I prefer to be with the larger group of Malaysians who are not aligned to any political parties,” he said.

Yesterday his younger brother, Umno Youth exco member and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz, announced that he will not quit the party.

He however called on Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.

The Star has the story here.

Mukhriz not quitting

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir aint quitting. He is staying on in Umno.

Many have expected the Umno Youth executive council member to follow the footstep of his father, former Prime MinisterTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who resigned from the party yesterday, citing dissatisfaction over the current leadership.

But his decision to stay on should not come as a surprise since Mukhriz, who is the MP for Jerlun, is going for the post of Umno Youth chief in December.

Read the full Star report:

Mukhriz not quitting, urges PM to step down (updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said he is not resigning from Umno, but reiterated his call for Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to step down as prime minister and party president.

The Jerlun MP, who is expected to contest for the post of Umno Youth chief in December, had previously called for Abdullah to step down after the March 8 polls that saw the Barisan Nasional coalition losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

On Monday, Mukhriz's father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, resigned from the party, citing his dissatisfaction over the current leadership.

He urged other Umno members to also leave until there was a change in party leadership. Father and son have both attributed -- directly in the case of the former -- Barisan's disappointing performance in the 12th general election to Abdullah.

After the polls, Mukhriz had written a letter to Abdullah urging him to take responsibility for the dismal results, but later denied that he had asked the Prime Minister to quit.

In April, Mukhriz said that a party leadership change should occur by the end of the year so that a tense contest can be avoided during the Umno annual assembly in December.

He said any contest during party polls could further fracture the party, and urged Abdullah to hand over the reins to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

On Monday, former premier Dr Mahathir announced that he would be quitting the party, much to the surprise of party members nationwide.

Go here for Mukhriz's media statement

The Kris-wielding issue: a contributing factor for BN poor performance - Khairy

Update: The Keris not main factor for reduced in support - Hishammuddin

Earlier story:
Umno deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin admitted that the issue of "keris-wielding" was among the factors why Umno and Barisan Nasional(BN) lost support among the voters in the March 8 polls.

However, he dismiseed the notion that it was the MAIN factor why voters, especially the non-Malays, didn’t support the BN candidates.

“We need to study and analyse the issue with an open mind," said Khairy, who is also the MP for Rembau.

He was speaking to reporters at a "retreat" for Barisan Nasional Members at a local hotel here yesterday.

Malaysiakini has the story:

Naib ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin hari ini mengakui bahawa isu keris menjadi satu daripada beberapa punca sokongan kepada BN merosot dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.

Beliau bagaimanapun menolak tanggapan bahawa isu keris menjadi punca utama pengundi, khususnya bukan Melayu, tidak menyokong ramai calon BN dalam pilihanraya umum tersebut.

"Kita perlu mengkaji dan berfikir untuk melihat isu keris ini secara terbuka," kata Khairy, yang juga ahli parlimen Rembau. Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui media di "retreat" ahli-ahli parlimen BN di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Kelmarin dua akhbar bawah Kumpulan NSTP, yang dikaitkan dengan Khairy,Berita Harian dan New Straits Times menyalahkan ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein kerana menghunus keris 'Panca Warisan' selama tiga tahun berturut-turut mulai 2005.

Bagaimanapun, kata Khairy, beliau tidak pasti sama ada isu keris tersebut akan di bawa ke perhimpunan agung Pemuda Umno hujung tahun ini.

"Saya juga tidak tahu sama ada isu keris ini akan dibangkitkan dalam mesyuarat exco pergerakan Pemuda Umno," tambah Khairy.

Beliau berkata, pada keseluruhannya, isu keris merupakan salah satu punca sokongan kepada BN berkurangan dalam pilihanraya umum ke-12.

"Kita perlu kenal pasti sebab-sebab timbul isu keris," tambahnya.

Isu keris menjadi polemik besar selepas Astro membuat siaran langsung perhimpunan agung Umno pada 2006 sewaktu 'Panca Warisan' diarak masuk ke dewan dan kemudiannya dihunus dan dikucup oleh Hishammuddin. click here for more...

(Now see what happens when you play around with the keris? Padan muka - keris sudah makan diri sendiri. It's a bitter lesson to be learnt. Let's hope keris-wielding Hisham wont do the honour this time around if he knows what's good for the movement.)

Khairy the best candidate for Youth chief post?

“... he is the best candidate to replace Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein as the movement's leader..."

No, I didn’t say that. You gotta be kidding. Someone else did. He is Negri Sembilan Youth chief Datuk Jamlus Aziz.

Remember what Khairy Jamaluddin, the son-in-law, said about contesting for the number one Youth post at the party’s polls in December?

He’s waiting for feedback, he said, and whatever it is”we must elect the best leaders who can continue to effectively lead Umno.”

Ahaa. I knew it. I knew that statement he made was meant for him and for his “men” to respond. Now we have two of them – apple polishers - who think Khairy is the best candidate for the post.

Datuk Jamlus said that Khairy was the best candidate to replace Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein as the movement's leader.

"We will lose out if Khairy is not elected as the Youth chief as he has been groomed to lead the movement. Other than his loyalty to the party, Khairy is also a capable leader," he was quoted as saying to Bernama.

Perak Umno Youth chief Zainol Padzi Paharudin parrot-ed Jamlus: that Khairy was the best candidate to lead the movement as he had shown the leadership traits in his present capacity.

Zainol Padzi said Khairy had proven that he was a leader of calibre, and an effective and loyal deputy to Hishammuddin.

"It will be a waste of his talents if it is not nurtured and polished," he said in a statement yesterday.

Zainol Padzi said Khairy had proven his capability and leadership ability when he led the Umno election machinery in several by-elections, put his skills to good use in thwarting criticisms and did not cow under pressure.

As Khairy had cultivated rapport with Umno Youth divisions, Zainol Padri said the Umno Youth vice-chief would be able to forge closer relationship with the grassroots.

"Khairy is courageous and ferocious in defending the New Economic Policy and Malay rights in line with Umno Youth principles and struggles," said Zainol Padzi.

So far only Dr Mohamad Khir and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir had announced that they would go for the Umno Youth chief post.

In meantime, former Selangor Menteri besar said he had no objection to Khairy vying for the top post.

"Umno is a democratic party. We can offer ourselves for the post, it's up to members to choose whom they feel should be given the mandate to rehabilitate the party," Dr Mohamad Khir told a press conference here yesterday.

On calls that he should give close attention to Selangor politics rather than contesting the post, Dr Mohamad Khir said the new Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib was entrusted with the responsibility, although he would continue to assist him.

Dr Mohamad Khir said he felt that his experience would put him in good stead to bring the youths closer to the top leadership as there was a big gap between them.

He said more dialogues with the youths should be held to enable them to voice their pent-up feelings.

Dr Mohd Khir, who is blogger now and whose blog has touched more than 180,000 hits since starting on March 28, said most of them wanted Umno to listen to what they have to say with an open heart.

Bernama has the story here.

Mukhriz makes sudden u-turn - Pak Lah

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has made a ‘sudden reversal’ on his earlier stand regarding his leadership, said Datuk Abdullah Badawi.

The Prime Minister and Umno President was commenting on the letter sent by Mukhriz, who is Umno Youth Exco member, asking on the him to step down in the wake of Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the March 8 polls.

"One day before he sent me the letter, he issued a statement saying he supports and he understands what happened was a ‘collective responsibility’ and other statements (were made by him) which appeared to be positive statements about me.

"Suddenly he changes ... just one day later, he sends a letter not only to me, but to (deputy premier) Najib (Abdul Razak) and the whole country," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"To me, this is not the right approach. This is a reaction from him as a member of Umno Youth which has already decided to support me and the party leadership.

Abdullah said that he will leave it to Umno Youth and its chief Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein to act on the matter.

Meanwhile, Hishamuddin said the letter did not reflect the movement’s stand adding that Umno Youth is still committed to its earlier pledge to support Abdullah and Najib.

"If the call on the prime minister was made in his personal capacity, then I personally feel that the manner in which it was done and the timing are inappropriate, " he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Read The thirteen million plus ringgit guy's entry: Mukhriz konsisten mengesa PM Abdullah berundur untuk kepentingan Bangsa dan Negara