UMNO suspends 16 for corruption<\/p>\n
MALAYSIA: Malaysia's main ruling party suspended 16 members on
\nWednesday in its toughest crackdown yet on corruption, and said
\nit was investigating several senior figures for possible vote-
\nbuying in September's party elections.<\/p>\n
The United Malays National Organization (UMNO), responding to
\nthe prime minister's anti-corruption drive, said it would offer
\nimmunity to informants to help step up probes into vote-buying.<\/p>\n
\"We have to eradicate the menace of money politics,\" UMNO
\ndisciplinary board chief Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen told reporters.
\n\"It could be cancerous if not checked.\"<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has put fighting
\ncorruption at the top of his agenda since taking over the helm a
\nyear ago from veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad.<\/p>\n
UMNO has led government since independence in 1957 and sees
\nitself as the political vehicle of Malays, the majority ethnic
\ngrouping. Malays live mainly in the countryside and are poorer
\nthan the next biggest group, the Chinese, who dominate business.<\/p>\n
Rithaudeen said the 16 party members had been suspended for up
\nto six years for vote-buying in divisional elections ahead of the
\nSept. 23 party assembly, where the top posts were decided.<\/p>\n
This brought to 38 the number of suspensions since August, he
\nsaid. Twelve others had been let off with a warning. UMNO has 3.2
\nmillion members. --Reuters<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/umno-suspends-16-for-corruption-1447893297",
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