YOURSAY | ‘Imagine, the audacity of the man to dish out money openly.’

Jamal: Sponsors, savings funded RM1k for 646 Umno delegates

Cmfoo: In days of old, for voluntary public services rendered, a mere thank you or a ceremonial testimonial/certificate would have sufficed plenty. And those are proudly framed and displayed in members’ homes.

But today, it has to be all-expenses-paid trips overseas, cash and more cash. The ‘cash is king’ under PM Najib Razak is the Umno-BN culture now. How sad.

Ronald: Imagine, the audacity of the man to dish out money openly, and yet, the authorities do nothing about it. Can you imagine the DAP doing it? They will be torn to shreds.

MinahBulat: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), if on the basis of this admission by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, you do not investigate the source of the funds, then what is the point of going after the corporate giants?

RM646,000 may not be big compared to the RM15 million fraud case, but what is clear is that you are beholden to Umno. Investigate Jamal and clear him by all means. If not, charge him.

Tholu: Jamal, why pay out in two instalments if the sponsors have already transferred their "donation" to you?

And talking about "donation", was the sponsors' money deposited into your personal account or into your division's account, in which case every member in your division including the 115 branch members should have known about it a very long time ago.

But learning about the beneficiaries' delight and jubilation upon your announcement of RM1,000 for each of them, it looks like they were unaware of it. A mini-1MDB scandal in the works?

Justine Gow: I would like to know which sponsors were generous enough to contribute half a million ringgit for someone to have a holiday abroad.

I know of many people who are in genuine need of money just to live from one day to the next. Just a few thousands of ringgits in donation would have already helped many of them in many different ways, not to mention half a million of ringgit.

Slumdog: See how the fairy tale story changes when put under the spotlight. First, it was 115 Umno Sungai Besar branch chiefs, then it became 646 divisional delegates.

He cancelled the trip because only 80 agreed to go, now it is because of the passing of MP Noriah Kasnon. Then he was taking the division’s branch chiefs for a holiday in Dubai, now it is has become a study trip.

One can see why Umno has such ardent supporters that they would do or say anything to defend the crimes of the debauched and corrupted MO1 (Malaysian Official 1). Their souls, integrity and principles can be purchased for RM1,000.

Roger 5201: But since the study trip to Dubai earlier this year is cancelled, should the money not be returned to the donors?

Jamal's act confirmed Umno practises money politics, says Rais

Bazooka: Rais Yatim, who is adviser to the government on social and cultural affairs, said: "All the while that I am in Umno, I never (saw) a leader admitting (he or she had) allocated money... So, the supreme council needs to do something."

Well, at least Jamal is honest for admitting he practised money politics. Majority of Umno warlords practice it, only they don't admit it publicly.

Even MO1 is no stranger to money politics. What do you think he did with the RM2.6 billion allegedly siphoned from 1MDB? Most probably, he paid all Umno division heads to get their loyalty.

That's why all of these warlords defend MO1 left and right, despite knowing the money they received is forbidden in Islam. But do they care?

6th Generation Immigrant: Why is Rais so surprised? Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said so when he was Umno president.

Even Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar said in the same function that "he would give each branch chief RM2,000, and not just RM1,000".

And Rais himself stated, "It worries me if such an example is displayed publicly.” The keyword is ‘publicly’.

All these indicators are just confirming facts that Malaysians already know since the days of Mahathir. If Jamal requires RM700,000 at the divisional level, surely the apex leaders will need more ‘zeros’.

MO1 must be sugar daddy with billions required. Jamal has indirectly confirmed that elections were bought - what has the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), and MACC got to say about it now?

Mushiro: Rais is definitely not blind to all the happenings in Umno and he chose to speak up only on Jamal's money politics.

But has Rais uttered any concerns over the colossal loss of RM42 billion in 1MDB? Or perhaps Rais felt this is perfectly acceptable as his boss is entitled to the Arabian ‘donation’.

Hot Khong: I don't know which is worse - Jamal/Umno blatantly practising money politics, or Rais implying that money politics should be done in secret.

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