PUTRAJAYA, Nov 12 - Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today suggested the Internal Security Act (ISA) should be used against corrupt Umno members.
He also backed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the best candidate in the race for the Umno deputy presidency while suggesting that the other two challengers are involved in money politics.
"That's a good way to use ISA, not for some writer who writes nonsense," he said of corrupt Umno members and also in an apparent reference to Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, who was released recently from ISA detention.
Dr Mahathir, who has become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, said there is "a strong possibility that Umno deputy presidential candidates are involved in money politics."
"Because some people who were at the bottom during the first week, suddenly shot up," said Mahathir when asked to comment whether the contest for the Umno deputy presidency is tainted with money politics.
The contest for the party's deputy presidency is now a three way tussle between Muhyiddin, who garnered 92 nominations, Datuk Seri Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib.
Ali and Muhammad received the minimum nominations, 39 on the last weekend of the Umno divisional meetings. Ali now has 48 nominations while Muhammad, 45.
"Everybody knows that Umno leaders are using money, when the election comes, the people will reject them. Not everyone is but the majority is. So you can be an Umno leader, but the people will reject you. When we have lost, there is no point in becoming Umno president," said Mahathir.
"Who wants to elect somebody who bought his way up," he added
"When you know somebody who has got very bad history and still getting support. That history I think has relevance to the support," he said when asked about the three cornered fight for the deputy presidency.
However he said among all the three candidates, Muhyiddin is the most qualified.
He recommended that all party leaders be investigated and removed from the party if found guilty.
"We need to clean up the party. Now you see the opposition is very quiet and Umno is seen as a very corrupt party, so opposition will talk about how they are not corrupt," said Mahathir.
He said that Umno leaders who are involved in money politics should be thrown into prison.

written by chialat, November 12, 2008
written by cubi76, November 12, 2008
It's time for TDM to right the wrongs that he started. Redemption time!
written by pat ling, November 12, 2008
written by anak malaysia, November 12, 2008
written by Shawn, November 12, 2008
ISA should really be reviewed on what the purposes are.
It's not for "protection", "kill freedom of expression", etc.
If Dr M can walks freely with all the things he has said & done for the last few months, I don't see why anyone else deserves ISA more than he does.
However, BN will never be bothered to review or discuss it because they can't lead the country for a single hour without ISA.
written by M, November 12, 2008
or was he referring to himself as the "writer who writes nonsense"
written by Sazmi Alias, November 12, 2008
What's so great about Mahathir? Don't forget Malaysia was just like other SEA countries which benefitted from a huge influx of FDI from Japan in the late 80s-90s. Nothing great there.
The rest was destruction, especially his sanction of systematic corruption. Now he wants to talk about corruption? Please, lah.
written by Countryman, November 12, 2008
Anyway, of many of the things you talk about recently, this one makes the most sense.
written by menteri busar, November 12, 2008
And the terrible dictator you are, to enrich your cronies and family members. Now you apprear to be supporting a suspected murderer for the post of PM. I wonder whyo you continue to keep quiet on the matter
Get your facts right, you need to be in there with NAJIB, and the corrupted ministers and thugs.
Raja Petra has his facts right, no wonder so many people support him.
Remember, if you are in there, no once will hold any candle vigils for you.
You are already an old senile man, you time is going to up soon, so spend more time praying.
written by joanne, November 12, 2008
Anyway, if someone would really take up his suggestion we'll end up with no government.
written by Candidmen, November 12, 2008
What say you, our honorable 'PM of the Richest' in this region who claimed poorer than Datuk Zaid, who had earned only 250K annual income?!..............
written by Seberang, November 12, 2008
And they are asking us to respect them? I too shed the tears like Tun Dr. Mahathir which many said crocodile tears, but mine tears are genuine, from laughter. These clowns are so funny.
written by great alibaba, November 12, 2008
If they are currupted, prosecute them under due process of law. No civilised country should use a draconian law such as ISA against its citizen.
Once a tyrant always a tyrant !
Get out of the way man ! You have created enough problem for Malaysia ! Enough is Enough ! You are going to be remembered as a corrupted hypocrite who screwed up Malaysian institutions and talk nonsense to contradict your own doing.
written by homeblogger, November 12, 2008
As far as the rakyat is concerned, as long as there is rampant money politics in UMNO, then NO ONE is to be trusted - including the current candidates for the top UMNO positions. After all, along with position comes MORE money at their disposal for buying votes.
So now we have another foolhardy suggestion to curb money politics BECAUSE the simplest solution - open and direct election - would be too much of a risk for EVERYONE in office. It's just unthinkable to close the ONLY way these people have of reaching the upper rungs of the ladder.
written by nik, November 12, 2008
Sometime not proven guilty doesn't means not guilty, sometime was that you don't have enough evidence to charge them. do you believe that?
e.g. If the thief steal something but when the police caught him and no stolen goods was found in him it doesn't mean he never steal.
written by Qulos, November 12, 2008
written by Richard, November 12, 2008
written by Joeawk, November 12, 2008
What he does not know is that with or without political corruption, the fight is quite even. In fact, going by the birthdate of the 3 contenders, the person with least hair on his head, his star will be weakest.
written by JT, November 12, 2008
written by Skeletor, November 12, 2008
written by sanwan, November 12, 2008
He is such a strong supporter for his yes-man, Muhyiddn...who should be the first one be questioned why he gather so many votes so fast! Plus his son, Why? Looks to me he is putting in place the plan to have his son, to be the next PM in waiting, yah.. he can twist Muhyiddin around his little finger by giving some nice words...cunning old man.
written by Bingo, November 12, 2008
written by Durian Besar, November 12, 2008
written by kyle, November 12, 2008
99% of all posts will fall vacant and Kamunting will be overcrowded overnight.
And Mahathir will have to share cell with Muhyidin since he likes Muhyidin so much.
written by JM, November 12, 2008
written by g_karan, November 12, 2008
written by pauline, November 12, 2008
written by khalil gibran, November 12, 2008
written by Damocles, November 12, 2008
What's the difference between having no government and a UMNO/BN government?
No difference at all!
With the present government, we are completely directionless and after five decades, the country's wealth has vanished and what have we got to show for it?
written by rashid hussein, November 13, 2008
written by outsider, November 13, 2008
Get rid of it, don't promote new uses!
written by BackAlleyKid, November 13, 2008
But by abolishing it, we can get a better solution. Don't listen to the losers. Our lovely country has suffer more than enough!!
written by YKLim, November 14, 2008
written by VendettaV, November 14, 2008
written by omongwaras, November 14, 2008
toxic = 100%
sshheeesshh
written by kristian, November 14, 2008
cracking Datuk unless you want kiss your job goodbye come March 2009. Your Boss is not too happy
with your performance , Kamunting needs urgent extentions, another 1000 cells needed to house
the expected clients from UMNO.




