They were said to have attempted to bribe three out of the division's 18 youth committee members who quit last Sunday, following a loss of confidence in the youth chief's leadership.

It is believed the mass resignation prompted the suspects to 'negotiate' with a former youth wing committee member to prevent an election for the wing.

The six, aged between 30 and 40, were picked up about 2am here, at the committee member's house after allegedly trying to coax him to withdraw his resignation by offering him RM40,000.

It is learnt the suspects are being interrogated at the state MACC headquarters.

While state MACC director Simi Abdul Ghani declined to comment on the arrests, Kota Tinggi Umno division chief Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the matter should be left to the commission to investigate. -- Bernama