Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on
Wednesday, 22nd October 2008:
Money politics in UMNO - an
offence under Anti Corruption Act
The revelation by Foreign Minister, Dato’
Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, that there is prevalence of money, politics
in the on-going UMNO divisional elections is a very serious matter. Rais
Yatim himself has stated that he had been approached to pay money for
votes.
Money politics constitutes an offence
under the Anti-Corruption Act, 1997. It is an offence under section 10
of the Act and punishable under section 16. The penalty provided for
under section 16 is imprisonment on conviction for a term of not less
than 14 days and not more than 20 years.
Rais Yatim is a lawyer by profession
and former Minister for Law. I am sure he is familiar with the
provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act. I would have thought he would
have immediately, upon knowing of the prevalence of money politics in
UMNO, lodged a report with the ACA. I wonder why he has not done so. In
fact, it is an offence under section 17 (3) of the Anti-Corruption Act
for any person from whom any gratification has been solicited or
obtained at the earliest opportunity thereafter to report the matter to
the nearest office of the Anti Corruption agency or police officer.
Section 17 (4) renders any person who fails, without reasonable excuse,
to cornply with snb-section 3, to be liable to punishment of a fine not
exceeding RM10,000.00 or to imprisonment of a term not exceeding 2 years
or to both.
I call upon Rais Yatim to forthwith
explain why he has not lodged a report over his knowledge of prevalence
of money politics in UMNO and the overtures made to him for money in
exchange for votes. If no police report has been lodged, the
Attorney-General should forthwith act against Rais Yatim under the
provisions of section 17 (4) of the Anti- Corruption Act. Rais Yatim
should set an example, and not detract from the compulsion under the law
for him to lodge a report.
* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit
Gelugor
http://dapmalaysia.org