Media Statement by Loke Siew Fook in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 26^thMarch 2009:

Money politics triumph in UMNO Youth!

As a fellow Parliamentarian from Negeri Sembilan, I would like to congratulate YB Khairy Jamaluddin for being elected the new UMNO Youth Chief yesterday.

However, the election of Khairy as the UMNO Youth Chief proved that money politics have been openly endorsed by the UMNO Youth delegates. Although a person is found to be involved in the scourge of money politics, he can still lead the UMNO Youth.

That shows that all the talks about “UMNO must change or be changed” are mere political rhetoric to please the general public. What credibility is left for UMNO if a person found to be guilty by the UMNO Disciplinary Board on account of money politics can still be elected to lead the most important wing in the ruling party?

Khairy was of course being treated differently by just given a warning and was allowed to contest the post. This however did not erase the fact that he was found guilty on money politics by his own party leaders. Money politics is corruption, period.

By tradition, the post of UMNO Youth Chief will also come with a Cabinet position. Will Khairy be selected in the Najib’s administration? If it happens, then we will see a very tainted Cabinet line-up and we will be a major laughing stock in the world as a person found to be guilty of corruption by his own party can still be appointed as a Minister!

Was money the main factor behind the victory of Khairy? The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be serious in finding the truth and act without fear or favor. I’m proposing to both my counterparts in PKR Youth and PAS Youth to lodge a joint report against Khairy Jamaluddin in the MACC headquarters next week.

* Loke Siew Fook, DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) National Chairman & MP for Rasah