PEKAN (Malaysia): Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday said more than 900 complaints had been received by the party's disciplinary board. He said Umno had to investigate each complaint carefully, to ensure that they were not made to malign innocent party leaders and members.

"Sometimes false or inaccurate reports are made with the intention of putting certain leaders in trouble.

"Each and every one of these complaints must be looked into carefully to ensure its veracity and truthfulness," Najib said after opening the annual meeting of the Pekan Umno division, which he heads.

Najib, who is also the deputy prime minister, said there had to be evidence before action could be taken to deal with complaints about money politics.

He said, if left unchecked, corruption would erode public confidence in the party.

It would result in the election of undeserving leaders, who were incapable of taking the party's struggle forward and destroy its credibility, he said.

On why there appeared to be little action taken, despite the large number of complaints, Najib said: "It is easy to talk but not easy to undertake.

"Despite this we must not let up in our efforts to eradicate money politics from the party.

"We want leaders who are credible and authoritative.

"At the end of the day, we will be evaluated by the people based on the leaders."

Earlier in his speech at the opening of the division meeting, Najib said he was confident Umno and other Barisan Nasional component parties would regain the support of voters following the coalition's poor showing in the last general election.

He said Malay, Chinese and Indian voters had not rejected Umno or the other BN parties, but rather had sent a message to the ruling coalition.

"What is the message? This is what we have to look at."

Najib said it was not too late for Umno and BN to change their fortunes if they stayed united and worked as a team to redeem themselves.

He said Umno, as leader of a large BN family, should cater to the interests of all and not just those of certain quarters.

"If we do this, I am confident that in the 13th general election, the people will be with Umno and BN."

Najib said he appreciated the leadership transition plan agreed to with party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as a potentially divisive contest for the top post had to be avoided.

"I do not want the party to be split. I do not want my relationship with Abdullah, which I cherish very much, to be affected."

He thanked Abdullah for instituting a smooth and dignified handover.