Musa Aman - Does Money Really Help?

Some people, especially politicians, think that as long as they dress like a holy man, behave well in public and speak against ill doings, they would be perceived as good and would be well respected.

Too bad, they are all wrong. They can only fool themselves, not others. Take this example of corruption and money politics.

09 July, 2004
Sabah Umno Liaison Chief Datuk Seri Musa Aman said party members are free to contest if they wish to do so in the party’s upcoming divisional delegates’ meetings, but reminded them to steer clear of money politics.

“I have already informed them about this...no money politics. There is no two ways about it. If there is contest, do so but refrain from resorting to money politics,” he told reporters here after attending a briefing by the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry.

21 July, 2004
On corruption, Musa said the State Government had revived the State Integrity Committee to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to wipe out corruption.

“The fight against abuse of power and corruption, promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors should be carried out by all stakeholders, including the Government, private sector and NGOs,” he said.

04 August, 2004
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said all quarters should be involved in the prevention of corruption and not the relevant authorities alone.

Corruption, if left unchecked, would spread like cancer, he said while opening a State level Pre-U public-speaking competition on Prevention of Corruption, at the Maktab Sabah hall here, Tuesday.

He pointed out that corruption had resulted in economic and social chaos in certain countries, saying such kind of threat could also happen in this country if not totally eliminated.

18 August, 2004
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is upset over the statement by a Deputy Minister that money politics is being openly practised in Sabah.

Musa, who is also State Umno liaison chief, said the statement was an inaccurate assessment of the situation in the state as the leadership constantly advised leaders and members to refrain from money politics.

“Money politics does not benefit us as Umno leaders and members. We must protect Umno’s image and strive to enhance the party’s strength,” he told reporters Tuesday when asked to respond to the statement by International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah who implied that money politics was widespread in the State.

An English daily quoted him on Sunday as saying that money politics was rampant in Sabah and is being practised openly in the run-up to next month’s party elections to the extent that he dared not go to Sabah.

Asked whether the State Umno had received complaints on money politics during last month’s divisional polls, Musa said he had not received the report from the State Umno disciplinary committee on the matter.

He said Sabah Umno was closely monitoring the situation to ensure there was no unhealthy practices among party members in the run-up to Umno elections.

23 August 2004
From MGGPillai.com (http://www.mggpillai.com/article.php3?sid=1992)
When corruption rears its ugly head ...

For the UMNO supreme council, the Sabah chief minister, Dato' Musa Aman offers RM1,000 a delegate in three tranches of RM200, RM300 and RM500; the Selangor mentri besar, Dato' Mohamed Khir Toyo offers RM1,000 or RM500 a delegate, depending on where he is from; those offering RM500 a vote are the Titiwangsa MP, Dato' Astaman Aziz; the deputy finance minister, Tengku Putra Tengku Awang; the deputy tourism minister and a former UMNO youth chief, Dato' Zahid Hamidi; the works deputy minister, Dato' Mohamed Zain Mohamed; the deputy rural and territory development minister and the former Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman, Dato' Awang Adek Hussein.

So, what say you, Musa Aman? You might have ‘aman’ (tamed) the delegates, but certainly not the general public, especially Sabahan.