The Umno headquarters' attempt to crackdown on money politics in the run-up to the party elections next month is proving to be an arduous task.

This, said sources, is because the 'kaki-kaki kempen' (campaigners) have joined forces to carry out their activities nationwide.

Sources said there are now five 'professional' teams offering their services to secure votes for candidates contesting in the polls, especially those standing for the three vice-president posts and 25 Supreme Council (SC) seats.

To avoid overlapping, the five teams are said to have agreed to divide the country into five territories - North, South, Central, East and East Malaysia (Sabah).

"The five teams have drawn up a list of their 'customers' and carry out campaigns for them according to their respective terrirtories."

"We understand that the list contains the names of three vice-presidential candidates and 25 SC candidates on the basis of whoever comes first will be listed," said the sources.

They said by streamlining the campaign to secure votes, competition between the five teams is avoided.

No information

This new method has made it difficult for the Umno headquarters to collect any information about money politics activities.

Prior to this, the sources said the Umno headquarters obtained information from campaigners who were dissatisfied with the activities of other campaigners.

"For the candidates, even though their names are on the list, they can still deny any knowledge of the matter... so no action can be taken against them," added the sources.

Undercover agents appointed by the Umno headquarters, who previously obtained information from the campaigners, are now finding it difficult to do so.

The sources also did not discount the possibility of the special briefing programme becoming a necessity with the exciting campaign being carried out in the run-up to the polls next month.

Even Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was reported to have said that Umno's move to have briefings for all delegates before the party polls were intended to curb the problem of money politics more effectively.

Take action

All the delegates from 191 divisions as well as the candidates standing in the polls are required to attend the special briefing entitled 'Taklimat Pembenterasan Politik Wang' (Briefing on Combating Money Politics] before the party polls scheduled to be held from Sept 21 till 25.

Four briefing sessions covering every zone will be carried out. The session for Sabah/Labuan zone was held last Friday while the second session, for the southern and central zone (Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and the Federal Terrirtories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya), will be held on Sept 6.

The third session, for the northern zone (Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Perak), is scheduled to be held on Sept 7 while the fourth session, for the east coast zone (Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu), will be on Sept 8.

According to the sources, the Umno disciplinary board has also been directed to take action without fear or favour in order to stamp out money politics.

"The directive was issued personally by president-elect Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to wipe out money politics at all levels, including the contest for the vice-president posts," they added.

Prior to this, they said, there were Umno members who grumbled that the disciplinary board did not take action against candidates for vice-presidency accused of involvement in money politics.