In the midst of various claims of money politics in the recently concluded party elections, Umno's disciplinary committee met today to probe into at least of such incident.

According to a newly elected Supreme Council member Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, the committee meet during the party's lunch recess to discuss the report. However it is unknown as to who lodged the report and against whom it was lodged.

This is the first instance of money-politics claims that has been reported to the disciplinary board since the commencement of Malay-based party's 55th annual general meeting at the Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

"I have heard that the disciplinary board is meeting now and that they have received a report. Let them settle it first," said Abdul Aziz, who is the rural and regional development ministry, when asked to comment of popular claims that money politics had played a role in this years party elections.

However, Abdul Aziz said he would reserve judgement and not comment on the matter until the proper investigations had been conducted and a report was released by the disciplinary board.

Abdul Aziz also did not disclose whether the case before the committee in question concerned an individual who had run for the coveted post of vice-president or a contestant for one of 25 seats in the Supreme Council.

"For the moment, I am not going to answer, yet. I will get more information first, then I'll speak. If not, I would be making judgements, and if I were wrong, that would not be good. In whatever endeavor, we have to make the proper studies and only then could we decide," he said.

Legal measures

Abdul Aziz also said that people should not be afraid to come forward if they had evidence of vote-buying.

"If we are afraid of the truth, then we are not involved in the struggle. We must be brave to come forward and say something if it is not right. Only then would we be regarded as being in a struggle. If not, we become followers without any self-respect," said Abdul Aziz.

Other Umno leaders echoed Abdul Aziz's comments on the need for members to come forward with evidence if they had witnessed any acts of vote-buying, as there were mechanisms in the party's constitution to protect these whistle-blowers.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who won the Supreme Council elections with the second highest number of votes, said there were sufficient legal measures in the party constitution to bring those charged to justice as well as to protect whistleblowers with evidence of money-politics.

"Members only have to await action to be initiated against those who still practice money politics. If there are enough witnesses and evidence, the committee will take action," added the deputy tourism minister.

Former Supreme Council member Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah also urged members with evidence to come forward if they had witnessed any acts of vote-buying.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. You're just trying to straighten things out and protect the future. I don't think we should allow this thing to continue. It would destroy the party," he told reporters.

Shocking victory

Yesterday party President Abdullah Ahmad Badawi lamented that despite numerous allegations of money politics, no one has thus far come forward with any evidence to back such claims.

However, he said if anybody comes forward with evidence then even the top office bearers who were elected on Thursday, will not be spared by the party's disciplinary committee.

"If somebody comes forward, the committee must take it up, it is their responsibility. Wrong is wrong - winning the seat does not legitimise your wrongdoing," he stressed.

The 'shocking' Umno poll results yesterday have spurred yet another round of vote-buying allegations within the party.

The biggest surprise was Federal Territories Minister Mohd Isa Samad who secured the highest number of votes to become a vice-president.