PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim described the disbarment of Mohd Ali Rustam from contesting in next week’s Umno elections as not only confirmation of the prevalence of money politics in the party but also of selective prosecution when action is taken to combat the scourge.

parliament 170209 anwar ibrahim “Must we be surprised that a contestant for the number two post is deemed to have engaged in money politics?” mused Anwar in remarks to Malaysiakini.

“We cannot be surprised because we know the practice is entrenched in Umno and Ali Rustam’s disbarment is merely an instance of selective prosecution,” he commented.

“His disbarment will do nothing to combat the scourge of money politics for the entire party is steeped in the culture. Ali Rustam is being singled out because he is not in the deputy prime minister’s camp,” he elaborated.

Anwar claimed that the Umno’s disciplinary committee is stacked with DPM Najib Razak’s men and “in the event they act against the corrupt they do so at the expense of people not allied to their master’s camp.”

It’s business as usual

The PKR supremo speculated that his apparently inadvertent meeting last week in Hulu Langat with outgoing prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at an Islamic leader’s Maulud Nabi luncheon had provided the motive for the suspensions meted out by Umno’s disciplinary committee.

najib on kuala terengganu by election 060109 02 “The Najib camp has moved to forestall things more from the fear they felt over my encounter with Abdullah and what that may imply for the upcoming transition than from a desire to cleanse Umno of the scourge of money politics,” he asserted.

“It will be business as usual for those not targeted by selective prosecution,” said Anwar caustically.

“Najib is turning the party into a microcosm of the country where a band of untouchables can flout the rules with impunity while the rest can and may be made targets as and when the powers-that-be want to make an example of whatever it is they want to clamp down at a given moment,” claimed Anwar.