Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos has denied that his RM1,000 handouts to party delegates was money politics as it is not election time.

He welcomed criticism of his decision to reward 646 of the party's branch chiefs with RM1,000, saying it is simply a gesture of gratitude.

"Money politics is when I buy votes, use money to get support, so I can win a contest.

"There's no (party) elections this year or next year. Only in 2018.

"No leader is going to use money from their own pockets to buy votes three years (in advance)," Jamal told Malaysiakini.

He added that if he made the handout in 2018, during which the next Umno party elections are scheduled, then he would indeed be guilty of practising money politics.

He was responding to Umno veteran Rais Yatim, who yesterday said Jamal's cash incentive had shamed the party, and proved that it practices money politics.

Jamal said he does not view Rais' remarks negatively and will take it as a lesson, although he wished veterans such as the former minister would have contacted him for an explanation first.

'Can't reward all 16,000'

He also defended his move as an attempt to reward his delegates for their hard work and sacrifice during the Sungai Besar by-election in July.

"If I want to reward all 16,000 Sungai Besar Umno members, I may not be able to afford it

"So, instead, we decided to give to the delegates, who represent Umno at the grassroots."

He added the Sungai Besar Umno members had made the division the party's best, as they had proven themselves in the June by-election when they increased their vote majority from just over 300 in the last general election, to 9,191 votes.

Jamal announced the cash handout during the Sungai Besar Umno delegates meeting on Wednesday.

The money, he said, was reallocated from a cancelled study trip to Dubai that would have only benefited 81 branch leaders and division committee members.