Sending Mohd Isa Samad to the guillotine is not enough to save Umno from the bane of money politics, said its former deputy president Ghafar Baba.

In an interview with Oriental Daily News published today, he lamented that money politics has reached an 'unimaginable' point in Umno and threatens to destroy the party.

Ghafar, who was also a former deputy prime minister, urged Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to crack the whip harder.

He said the six-year suspension imposed on Mohd Isa, the party's vice-president and federal territories minister, proved Abdullah's determination to battle the scourge but it must not stop with one person.

"Action has been taken against Mohd Isa and this shows that Abdullah notices money politics (in the party). But this is not enough, buying votes does not involve only one person.

"We are very concerned about money politics in the party. Representing the veterans in Umno, I have submitted a memorandum requesting Abdullah to tackle it and educate members on returning to the party's original struggle," he added.

He claimed that people who join Umno these days are motivated by self-interest and not because of the nation, race or religion.

Act against tightlipped leaders

Ghafar also suggested that action be taken against leaders who have knowledge of cases involving money politics but decline to reveal the information.

"They have knowledge of something but decline to divulge it , this is something dangerous. They should be punished," he said.

The veteran politician also wants the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to investigate money politics in Umno.

He said if the ACA is prevented from probing these cases then the situation in the party will deteriorate further.

Action by the party alone, he added, would not be effective in the long run as members would devise other ways of money politics that are harder to trace.

Reveal sources of income

Since those involved in money politics are politicians with government positions and not businessmen, Ghafar questioned how they could afford to throw around such large amounts of money.

"Why do they have so much money to play politics with money? The sources of this wealth are suspicious and should be investigated," he said.

In view of this, he said leaders whose luxurious lifestyles do not tally with their official income should be investigated.

If a government official owns a Rolls Royce car, his source of income should made known to others, he added.

"Some people see politics as an investment. If you invest with money, your return would be power. Then you use the power to get more money," he said.