The Umno disciplinary board is 'discreetly' investigating allegations of money politics involving candidates who contested for vice-presidential and Supreme Council (SC) seats.

Sources said the investigations are being carried out quietly in order to prevent speculations from arising.

"We have been informed by some people who are close to the party leadership that the investigations are being carried out by the disciplinary board, but it is being done quietly.

"If there is a lot of publicity now, then there will surely be some who will start pointing their fingers at the candidates.

"If such speculation starts, it may make it difficult for the candidates who won to carry out their duties properly, when they have not been proven guilty," they said.

Several Umno leaders who failed to win such as Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir have raised the issue of money politics.

The issue became a heated topic after the shocking results of the Umno polls, which saw Federal Territories Minister Isa Samad unexpectedly securing the most votes, followed by Malacca Chief Minsiter, Mohd Ali Rustam.

Seven candidates contested for the three vice-president posts. Other than Isa and Mohd Ali, they were Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, incumbent vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mustapa Mohamed, Pahang Mentri Besar Adnan Yaakob.and Johor Baru MP Shahrir Samad.

The third spot went to Muhyiddin.

Condemned beforehand

However, the sources were reluctant to reveal who had made a report to the disciplinary board or which candidates are being investigated.

"That's the problem... if it is revealed which candidates are involved, even before the board makes a decision, the candidates will already have been judged by the media and other Umno members...

"As such, it is better that they do not know about that... if not, there will be speculation which can affect the carrying out of duties by the candidates for the good of the party," they said.

Asked whether Umno had truly appointed about 1,000 agents to observe the campaigning period, the sources replied that it was true.

However, they do not know if the agents have made any reports about any wrongdoings or money politics by the candidates.