Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos has denied that his RM1,000 handouts to party delegates was money politics as it is not election time.

He welcomed criticism of his decision to reward 646 of the party's branch chiefs with RM1,000, saying it is simply a gesture of gratitude.

"Money politics is when I buy votes, use money to get support, so I can win a contest.

"There's no (party) elections this year or next year. Only in 2018.

"No leader is going to use money from their own pockets to buy votes three years (in advance)," Jamal told Malaysiakini.