Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must prove his zeal in combating corruption and money politics through tough action and not just by talking tough, says Umno Youth exco Mukhriz Mahathir today.

He added that there are still no concrete results on the part of the government thus far in its combat against corruption.

Mukhriz said the anti-corruption efforts as outlined by Abdullah in his Umno opening speech this morning were nothing more than rhetoric.

"The issue of corruption is not new. It has been happening for years. We hope that action is taken," Mukhriz told malaysiakini .

"We really hope he will take appropriate action and show to the rakyat that he is truly serious in his battle against corruption."

"We just talk, talk, talk. I feel that Umno members want action and not just talk," said Mukhriz, who is former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son.

In his speech, Abdullah, who is also the Umno president, said he was committed to eradicate money politics and corruption at all levels in the government.

"However, the party president cannot do this alone. I call on my fellow members to assist me in eradicating corruption," said Abdullah in his speech to some 2,500 delegates who had convened at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Slow progress in probing

Mukhriz, who is Kedah's Kubang Pasu delegate, said efforts to eradicate money politics in Umno were not serious.

This can be seen in the Umno disciplinary board's slow progress in investigating allegations of money politics in Kubang Pasu, he added.

He was referring to the complaints made by five Kubang Pasu division members that they were offered money to ensure Mahathir does not win in the division's contest to elect delegates to the assembly today.

Mahathir failed in his attempt to be elected as a delegate in the division which he had lead for over 30 years, and the subsequent complaints of money politics are still pending at the party's disciplinary board.

The former president was not able to attend the assembly this year - the first time in three decades - as he was still recuperating from a mild heart attack.

However Mahathir's wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali was present as an invited guest to the assembly. She was accompanied by her daughter Marina.

Meanwhile, Umno Kuantan delegate Razali Alam said that the country's corruption problems were worrisome because people are no longer afraid to break the law.

"News of corrupt practices are old stories. Are there enough steps taken to eradicate it?" he asked.

"I believe that corruption would not happen if tough actions are taken. What I am worried is that all we do is talk with no actions taken," he said.