FOR sure, Parti Keadilan Rakayt (PKR) has serious problems. But what to make of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim whose image as a principled politician is at odds with his apparent tendency to quit when expectations are not met?

POLITICAL parties legitimately need money to carry out their functions in a democracy. After all, to stand any chance of being elected, candidates will need to tell voters who they are and what they stand for. All this costs money. Even after a representative is elected, money is still needed to do a politician’s work. [...]

PETALING JAYA, 23 Oct 2009: Money politics must be addressed through laws that allow independent investigations into the ethical conduct of political parties, including during party elections, said Universiti Malaya’s Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez. But the political analyst told The Nut Graph in a telephone interview that he didn’t think Umno would try to [...]

Isa Samad poses at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event in Bagan Pinang “THIS is part of my programme for the Bagan Pinang by-election: jalan-jalan cari undi,” says Tan Sri Isa Samad, 60, riffing off the popular TV3 food travelogue, Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan. The 3,000-strong crowd here in Taman PD Utama initially looks more interested in [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 June 2009: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) conducted three investigations into Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam’s alleged involvement in money politics. “The MACC conducted two investigations into certain parties that were allegedly involved in the giving of bribes for the purpose of nominating Ali Rustam as Umno deputy president,” said Minister in the Prime [...]

(Updated 5:46pm, 31 March 2009) KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2009: Several Umno leaders are being investigated for alleged money politics in the run-up to the Umno general assembly last week, said a member of the party’s Disciplinary Board Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas. He said the probe was carried out by officers of the [...]