The disappointment of Umno leaders like Adnan Yaakob, Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir and Azmi Khalid clearly knew no bounds. They openly claimed that money politics was the cause of their defeat in the party polls.

However, amidst their strident protests, there were traces of 'give and take, and pity' regarding the dirty politics.

Adnan, for example, had criticised those who won the vice-president posts, reminding them that they were not heirs to the Umno leadership, but had been picked to carry out duties and to honour the trust of party members.

And when asked by Umno Deputy President Najib Tun Razak to reveal the evidence he had so that investigations could be carried out, Adnan declined to do so. Instead, the Pahang menteri besar 'politely' stressed that he will not do so as not to threaten the work and future of the candidates involved.