Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang has a question for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi: "Why can't Federal Territories Minister Isa Samad resign immediately but must take a week to do so?"

"Why is this 'unfinished work' he has in the Federal Territories Ministry when he had 15 weeks since his suspension as Umno member to clear them?" he asked in a statement today.

Yesterday, the premier who is also Umno president announced that Isa's suspension from the party will be reduced from the initial six years to three years.

Isa was found guilty of breaching the party's disciplinary code by practising money politics during last year's party elections.

It was reported that Isa said he is willing to resign from his ministerial post but will remain as MP.

Lim said both statement by Isa as well the embattled International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz that they will resign if asked by the premier to do so were 'utterly meaningless'.

"They give the impression that both ministers are very generous in being prepared to do the government and the premier a great personal favour by agreeing to resign in the circumstances they described," he said.

The veteran politician said under the Westminister system of parliamentary democracy that Malaysia practises, both ministers have no option but to resign or be sacked.

Money politics = corruption

Lim said Isa's need for a week to clear up 'unfinished businesses' also reminded him of the unhealthy practices by some outgoing menteris besar or chief ministers who were being transferred to the federal level.

"There have been instances where the outgoing menteri besar or chief minister had abused their caretaker government powers by taking the most improper and probably illegal decisions such as to alienate land or conduct transactions involving state resources," he said.

"Therefore the premier should, in the interests of promoting a national integrity system, tighten up rules and procedures making such practices unlawful and a corrupt offence".

The opposition leader said Isa had not attended any cabinet meetings since his suspension in June.

"As such, why the precedent of a non-cabinet-attending minister?" he asked.

Lim also questioned that since money politics is a form of corruption, will the premier give a free hand to the Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate and prosecute Isa under the corruption laws.