The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should take action against those who are involved in money politics in the upcoming Umno divisional and branch elections, said Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

"If there is suspicion of wrongdoing or if there are instances of corruption, then the ACA should take action," Abdullah told reporters today after officiating Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) new stadium.

However, he added that on matters other than money politics, the party would handle them internally.

"We have already agreed that there would be ethical standards to be adhered to by Umno members. Earlier on, we have agreed that money politics is not good for anyone, it is not good now and not good ever," said Abdullah, who is also Umno disciplinary committee chairman.

He said this in reply to a question on the comment made by de facto law minister Dr Rais Yatim in an interview with malaysiakini that "money politics would go out the window if you ask the ACA to come in" ([#1] Let ACA fight money politics in Umno [/#], Jan 3).

Rais also lamented that he had no role to play "under the present practice of money politics in the party".

"I cannot subscribe to the system of money politics that (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) has been talking about. If money politics is left behind and there is a new system, then I would have a role. But if Umno politics is pursuant still to the present gamut, I don't think I could have a role," he added.

More police

Abdullah was also asked whether the increase of police personnel in the capital city, which includes the revival of the 24-member Light Strike Force, was to handle the growing number of demonstrations.

He replied that he had not been informed about the matter.

"I know that there has been an increase in the police force to secure and patrol our waters in the East and the South China Sea after the recent security situation there," he said.

Earlier in afternoon, after having a closed-door dialogue session with students and university administrators, Abdullah received a memorandum from UPM's student council on the abolition of the 4 percent interest levied on students borrowing from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation.

When asked to comment on the memorandum, Abdullah said that he had not had the opportunity to read it yet and that he would look at it in depth.

Undue burden

UPM student council president Che Zakaria Che Ali who presented the memorandum stated that the interest rate levied was "illogical".

"The interest is not only unIslamic, it also places undue burden on students especially those from rural areas," Che Zakaria stated.

The memorandum stated that students from universities would borrow on average RM21,000 for a three-year course but would have to pay back RM28,986 after finishing their studies while those in private institutions who borrow RM60,000 would have to repay RM90,000.

"We would like to have lending schemes like those given by Mara and the Public Services Department where there are no interest rates charged," he added.

He also said that there were 17,000 students involved in this scheme in UPM alone and 40,000 nationwide.