COMMENT | We need real probe into our cash-and-carry politicians

COMMENT | If indeed key ministers and politicians are involved in receiving so-called political donations in, cash as alleged in a corruption trial last Friday, it is perhaps the clearest indication yet so far that corruption has permeated the top ranks of politicians.

For this country to progress, it needs good politicians who are honest, straight and incorruptible while being competent. It has long been suspected that there have been substantial inappropriate and illegal “donations”, but strong evidence emerging has been hardly investigated.

These need to be taken seriously and investigated. If this backdoor government, in any way, hinders such investigations then it needs to be thrown out at the next polls where hopefully a less corrupt government will take over and take Malaysia forward again.

Among the most shocking revelations is in the ongoing corruption trial of Umno president and former home minister and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. A key witness alleged that major politicians, including former prime minister and Bersatu head Muhyiddin Yassin, received payments from the same source in addition to Zahid.

Muhyiddin was alleged to have received RM1.3 million. Other prominent people said to have received money, according to entries in a ledger and confirmed by a former administrative manager of the company (Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd, or UKSB), included Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who was alleged to have received RM3.7 million.

Other prominent names in the UKSB ledger include Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, then rural development minister and Warisan head Shafie Apdal, then foreign minister Anifah Aman and the then deputy foreign minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican (now housing and local government minister). These names were also mentioned in MACC’s forensic...