INTERVIEW Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii courted flak last week when he said former Umno leaders Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin made more riches than seven generations could spend, thanks to the party.

Many took this as him unwittingly admitting to a culture of corruption in Umno, where warlords pillage the people's monies for their own personal gain.

However, in an interview with Malaysiakini, Razlan (photo) said this was not what he meant.

Instead, he said, what he meant was that through Umno, people like Muhyiddin and Mahathir were able to get high ranking jobs in the government, which paid them well and gave them special treatment.

"I didn't mean corruption. All of them lived lives of wealth, had high ranking jobs, high salaries, got VIP treatment, red carpets, business class and first class flights, all that thanks to Umno.

"That's what I meant," Razlan said at the Malaysiakini office last Friday.

He added that he had made his original remarks to remind them to be grateful for the party's contributions to them.

"If you want to fight in another party, go ahead, but don't belittle the place where you used to earn a living."

Mahathir had quit Umno earlier this year, while Muhyiddin was sacked two months ago for working with the opposition against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In their war against Najib, they have also taken shots at Umno for their continued support of the party president.

Probed further on the matter, Razlan denied that Muhyiddin had ever been corrupt, nor that there was a culture of corruption in Umno.

"If someone wants to be corrupt, they can do this even if they are a clerk," he said.

Razlan also denied that wealth is what causes power struggles within Umno, saying that such tussles are common in any political party where leaders strive to further their own agendas.

He added that having a position in Umno doesn't necessarily mean one will attain riches.

Some Youth leaders, he said, are even on the brink of bankruptcy after pumping their own funds for the good of the party.