As an Umno member with no political ambitions, I have the freedom to support and criticise the party when things go wrong. Right now, I am concerned on the magnitude of unethical behaviour amongst some of our national and state divisional leaders which in turn tarnishes the credibility and image of Umno.

Over the last few weeks, just after the conclusion of the Umno general assembly, the party has been plagued by post-election irregularities, including the alleged involvement of money politics and unethical campaign tactics.

This has split the solidarity and creditabilty of the party and affected members' absolute loyalty and trust to their elected leaders. The irregularities mentioned are also in gross violation of Umno's constitution and code of practice.

I have known the struggles of Umno from the early sixties and I dare say that each time when the party is beset with management problems, it has become an accepted norm that issues that cannot be rectified or resolved are conveniently forgotten or swept under the carpet.

Certain party regulations have known to be changed just with the stroke of the pen at the eleventh hour without the consensus of the party's Supreme Council, in order to suit the personal agenda of certain influential individuals who are connected with high power politics.

If influence can be bought within the nation's most powerful party accompanied by unethical practice and arm twisting tactics, then democracy is certainly foregone in Umno. This will, in fact, compromise the party's struggle to uplift the spirit and morale of 'Bangsa Melayu' as enshrined in its constitution.

With money politics we have seen the emergence of power struggles within Umno and s most impure and undignified system of electing leaders and representatives to national and state levels of the party hierarchy.

Umno party elections of the last few decades have deviated from its original conservative system of identifying credible leaders, without fear or favour, to lead the party forward.

In the past, there was no place for partisan politics. Umno then was the pride of all Malays including those from the kampung. Unfortunately, due to the success of our economic policies, Umno today is a party for the rich Malays to wield power and influence in obtaining patronage for personal and monetary gain.

The ordinary folk in Umno are only observers and have no opportunity to express their views and opinions what with the controlled process of party meetings and conventions.

Today in Umno, only the powerful and the influential are chosen to speak their language and they use the opportunity to brain wash the minds of the ordinary Malays, the ordinary Malays who are supposed to be part of the nation building process for a prosperous Malaysia with a spirit of national commitment based on merit.

I urge the Umno Management Committee under the Deputy President Najib Razak to use its wisdom to directly address and resolve the issue of money politics as well as evaluate the party's present system of voting by proxy i.e. elected divisional representatives or 'perwakilan'.

I would like to suggest that all Umno members should be allowed to vote in future party elections at all levels of the party, i.e. branch, divisional and national level. A voting system comparable to the national general election should be devised in order to reflect the true democracy Umno purportedly advocates.

Finally, in the words of Bernard Paine, I quote: 'Bribery is a sin. It is condemned in the law of Mosses: 'And thou shalt take no gift; for a gift bindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.'

These words are as true today as when they were written.