In a matter of weeks, Malaysia would possibly witness the swearing in of the next prime minister. Najib Tun Razak is currently the prime minister-in-waiting. He would be the sixth prime minister and perhaps would also be the youngest in the county’s history.

It is also established fact that whoever leads Umno would automatically become the prime minister.

Under the Westminster parliamentary system, one needs to win a seat in any parliamentary constituency and also lead the most dominant party within the coalition - in this case - Umno and that would guarantee the person the ticket to become prime minister.

Let us assume that a parliamentary constituency has fifty thousand voters and seventy percent voted in an election. The winner in the election won by a simple majority.

If this person is the president of Umno, then he is guaranteed the premiership despite the fact that he won only by a simple majority and a small number of voters voted him into parliament. That is the political system under which our nation survives. We have no choice but to follow the system whether we like it or not.

Therefore, the rakyat hardly have any say on who should be their prime minister. That is decided upon by the political system and structure.

Under these circumstances even if the whole nation does not like the candidate for the premiership, there is nothing that could be done to change the situation except to vote the whole party out at the next elections.

Having said that and under these circumstances, we need to ponder on what type of prime minister Najib Tun Razak would be? There are a number of key questions that the rakyat need answer. Some of the questions that ought to be answered are as follows:

1. Would Najib be fair and just to every Malaysian irrespective of race, creed, background and religion?

2. Would there be fairer distribution of wealth irrespective of race, religion, creed and background?

3. Would he abolish the ISA, the OSA, the Sedition Act and all other draconian laws which are against fundamental human rights or would he use these laws to further suppress and oppress the rakya t?

4. Will he allow greater freedom of speech and assembly or would he suppress such fundamental freedoms?

5. Would detention without trial be discontinued and the Kamunting Detention Center be closed or more arrests would follow after he becomes the prime minister?

6. Would he pledge to eliminate corruption and bring to justice those who are corrupted or would he use selective prosecution?

7. Would he ensure that a fair, just and independent justice system would prevail?

8. Would he ensure that the education system is not racially polarised?

9. Would he ensure that the civil service, police and armed forces are much more multi-racial with more intakes from other races?

10. Would he ensure that unity and solidarity among Malaysians would prevail under his leadership?

11. Would he ensure that the economic disparity between the rich and poor be narrowed?

12. Would he ensure that every Malaysian would have fair opportunities and privileges under the Malaysian sun?

13. Would he ensure political stability, peace and harmony in our beloved nation?

14. Would he be statesman or a dictator?

15. Would he ensure that Altantuya’s murderers be brought to justice?

The list of questions could go on and on. Since the rakyat do not have the privilege and right to directly elect their prime minister, it is of fundamental importance that these questions be answered in the larger interest of our beloved nation.

The rakyat need to feel confident and comfortable with the in-coming prime minister and if this not forthcoming then this beloved nations of ours would face enormous problems, challenges and infighting.

The rakyat and business community must feel secure under Najib’s premiership and for that he needs to assure the rakyat on some of the fundamental questions listed above.