Ali Rustam escapes no-confidence vote over corruption

By Wong Choon Mei

Corruption-tainted Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam managed to escape an embarrassing no-confidence vote being tabled against him by opposition lawmakers in the state legislative assembly.

“This is an attempt by the DAP to seek cheap publicity,” said Ali Rustam.

Last month, the Umno disciplinary board stopped him from contesting Muyhiddin Yassin and Muhammad Muhammad Taib for the deputy presidency of the party after finding him guilty of vote-buying.

There was also speculation that the eleventh hour move was to prevent the popular Ali Rustam from beating Muhyiddin for the party’s No 2 post, which also comes with the deputy premiership in tow.

Shouting and commotion

Nevertheless, opposition lawmakers have objected to his punishment being limited to within Umno. Money politics, they said, was corruption and Ali Rustam would have to face the public prosecutor and his peers in the legislature.

“This is because of his involvement in money politics in the recent Umno election which has affected his credibility as a leader resulting in a loss of confidence by the people,” said Goh Leong San, the DAP assemblyman for Kesidang.

But Goh’s emergency motion was rejected by Speaker of the assembly, Othman Muhamad.

“There is no great urgency to table the motion because it is not a natural disaster. It is also not of public interest as the case had been settled by Umno,” said Othman.

His decision prompted a shouting and slanging match that went on for more than 20 minutes. The Malacca state assembly is dominated by Umno-BN elected representatives, who hold 23 out of 28 seats. Five seats are held by Pakatan Rakyat partner, DAP.

Sumber : Suara Keadilan