Prolific Umno politician Khairy Jamaluddin has shown more than political prowess of late - he has wealth to boot as proven when he bought RM9.2 million worth of shares last Wednesday.

According to Reuters , Khairy, acquired a three percent stake in ECM Libra Berhad, a fledging financial advisory company in which he has been a director since July 2004.

Exchange filings showed that Khairy bought 13 million shares at 71 cents per share in three separate transactions from chairperson Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan - who is also former group editor-in-chief of New Straits Times - chief executive officer Lim Kian Onn and chief operating officer Chua Ming Huat.

Better known as the prime minister's son-in-law and his role as deputy Umno Youth chief, little is known about Khairy's business ventures, leaving some wondering how he managed the feat.

Khairy, who is believed to be holidaying in Australia, cannot be contacted for comment.

Explain 'unusual' wealth

According to Mohd Ezam Noor - who is opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth chief who had spent a stint in Umno - such occurrences are "normal" despite that Khairy does not hold any government post.

While refusing to be drawn into speculating the source of Khairy's wealth, Ezam was still curious about where the money came about.

"I'm not accusing him of anything. But being so close to the prime minister, it might be good for him to explain the sources of his wealth," said Ezam today when contacted.

Meanwhile, veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang commented that Khairy was caught in a catch-22 situation as the transaction was a private affair by a public figure.

"It is inevitable that the public will start wondering where he got the money. As an up-and-coming politician, he would have anticipated that," said Lim.

Lim hoped to see an explanation as to how the 30-year-old politician accumulated such an "unusual" amount of wealth at such a young age.