NAZRI ASKS DR MAHATHIR FOR PROOF

KUALA LUMPUR, (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has asked former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to provide proof that money politics was involved in the race for the Umno deputy presidency.

Nazri said it was not proper for Dr Mahathir to have made such a serious allegation without proof as it could have a negative impact on the candidates vying for the post as well as the party.

"If he (Dr Mahathir) has the proof, he should show it to the party's Disciplinary Board. That's the best thing to do, because he must remember that he's a statesman, so people tend to believe whatever he says," Nazri told reporters at the parliament lobby here today.

He was responding to Dr Mahathir's statement yesterday implying that a candidate had used money to secure enough nominations to enable him to contest the Umno deputy president post in the party elections in March.

Nazri said party delegates should report to the authorities if candidates offered them money to gain support as this could check corruption.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib who has qualified as one of the three candidates for the Umno deputy presidency, said all quarters should work together in stamping out money politics to ensure a smooth and fair party polls.

"We have about four months more to the party elections, so I hope everyone can play their role to eradicate money politics.

"Candidates, delegates and anyone else should not be creating unsavoury stories or do anything negative so that the delegates are free to make their own choice come March next year," he said.