Defending his statement that Umno members are immune to graft laws, de facto law minister Nazri Aziz said this is because the party's standards are higher than those stipulated in the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

He said this in response to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang who questioned Umno members' ability to escape investigations by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and said this contradicts the National Integrity Plan.

"This not to say that Umno's money politics are excluded from the ACA. We have to see that many things assumed as a wrongdoing within the party are not covered by the Act," Nazri told the Dewan Rakyat.

"For example, if I am contesting for the post of division leader, I would call a dinner meeting with representatives and explain why I'm standing (for that post). Under the Act, it would not be an offence but in Umno, it would be an offence. We set our standards higher than the Act."

Nazri who is a party supreme council member, had said last week that the ACA has no power to initiate investigations into reports of money politics and bribery within Umno.

Umno not immune

During the Question session in the House this morning, he also said any infraction within the party would not have a negative impact on the public because party posts do not involve use of public funds or public projects.

Lim interrupted to say that national legislation has precedence over Umno's disciplinary board, but Nazri reiterated his stand.

"I am speaking about money politics in Umno. All I am saying is that, while there are offences punishable by the Umno disciplinary board, these don't fall under the Act."

He then gave another example how assistance given to party members would fall outside the ambit of the Act.

"If we have a general assembly and if, say members from Sabah are coming to the capital, we would provide the fare. This would be considered a breach by Umno but not in the Act. So that's why we cannot equate offences punishable under Umno with those under the ACA," he said.

Those on the opposition bench raised voices to object, but speaker Ramli Ngah Talib called the House to order.

"Don't mengamuk (cause chaos) during Hari Raya," Nazri added cheekily before sitting down.