Umno veteran Rais Yatim has told off a division chief who remarked that giving monetary gifts to branch leaders and delegates is not money politics if it is not in z party election year, for trying to hide behind technicalities.

“I want to tell him, don’t hide behind a blade of grass, we must stand behind the truth,” said Rais before launching into a pantun.

“Jangan dipanjat kelapa condong,
buahnya jatuh ke laman orang,
bumi dipijak langit dijunjung,
berdiri tegak bukannya lalang.”

(Do not climb a crooked palm tree,
its fruits fall into others’ yard,
where the land is trod the sky lies above
stand tall but be not like grass.)

“Prior to this I had said, this (his actions) makes Umno seem like a money-grubbing party. But if RM600,000 has been spent, if you don’t call it money politics I don’t know what else to say,” said Rais further.