Former Malacca chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik has attributed his defeat as Umno Kota Melaka divisional head during the ongoing divisional polls to rampant money politics within the party, alleging candidates were asked to pay up to RM1,000 for a vote.

Rahim, who lost to incumbent Amid Mordin in Sunday's elections, said the reason behind his defeat was his refusal to pay for votes. Rahim garnered 126 votes to Amid's 235.

At a press conference today, Rahim said he expected his revelation to be unpopular with many Umno members. He said he was raising the issue now as he had experienced first-hand being 'victimised' by Umno's money culture.

According to Rahim, the money for votes usually changed hands at hotels where delegates stay the night before voting.

"I feel what I have experienced is something horrible. That is why I have to tell the public, and at the same time take up the issue with the leadership level.

If I don't expose this, nobody will do it. It is also very difficult (to expose the individuals). You can never identify (those involved), and so it takes courage to deal with this," said Rahim.

"I love my bangsa (race) and country, and I don't want this bad culture to be the very foundation of how we choose our leadership. This shouldn't be part of the Malaysian political culture at all. Every one must hate political corruption."

Taxi permits, land

Rahim also said several leaders within Umno are openly known to use the party to gain preferential access to state land titles, government projects and lucrative contracts.

Among the preferential awards given to Umno leaders and individuals linked to them include titles to over 200 acres of land including at the seafront, 30 taxi permits and a 15-year road maintenance concession worth RM2 million, Rahim alleged, adding Kota Melaka Umno members are openly aware of these awards.

"Those leaders who have enjoyed these 'privileges' will continue to fight tooth and nail to defend their positions within Umno, regardless of the price they have to pay. To them, Umno is just 'Umno Sdn Bhd', an opportunity to gain more privileges," he said.

Rahim said he intended to lodge at least a complaint with the Umno disciplinary committee.

"Something must be done to eradicate this kind of culture," he said, adding that the nation could afford to pick bad leaders.

"Because of the sensitivities in our country, Malaysia has to be a prosperous. A poor Malaysia will be hell. But in order to be prosperous, we need good leaders which come from good culture. But instead we practice bad culture and expose our younger leaders to it."

No action

The issue of money politics has been a perennial topic with former president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who unfailingly raised it at every Umno annual general meeting since 1993.

In the early 90s also, certain quarters had alleged that the Anwar Ibrahim-aligned 'Wawasan' (vision) team led by then vice-presidents Najib Abdul Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin and Muhammad Muhd Taib had apparently swept into power on the back of money politics.

Rahim was also part of the new team when he won the post of Umno Youth chief.

Two years later, he had to vacate the post and step down from the Malacca chief minister post after he was embroiled in a scandal involving an underaged girl. Rahim has been seeking to make a political comeback since then.

In 1996, a disciplinary committee headed by Umno veteran Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen was formed to address the issue of money politics in the party.

But following that, though some leaders have been suspended from the party for dwelling in money politics, the issue continues to surface during each party election.