One of the immediate task for newly-minted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is to ask the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe those implicated in vote-buying in last week’s Umno polls.

According to veteran opposition politician Karpal Singh, among those who should be investigate by MACC are Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

ali rustam interview 281008 01 “Najib needs to direct his attention immediately to eradicate corruption in the country. Money politics, in law, amounts to corrupt practice,” said the DAP stalwart in a press statement today.

Both Khairy and Ali Rustam were found guilty of vote-buying by Umno’s powerful disciplinary committee in the run-up to last week’s party meeting.

While Ali Rustam was barred from contesting the Umno deputy president post, Khairy was let off with a warning and he went on to win the Youth wing’s much-coveted top post.

Also on Karpal’s wishlist is the call for Najib not emulate former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

khairy jamaluddin interview 230209 07 “Najib should not revive mega-projects which were the brainchild of Mahathir but which were discontinued by (former premier) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and for good reasons.

“Najib should not appoint Mahathir as advisor to the cabinet. If he does so, that would certainly be a recipe for disaster,” said Karpal.

“Najib should (also) make amends for the manner in which Abdullah was hounded out of office despite having, in the 2004 general elections, secured 92 percent of the total seats in Parliament, which is a record in the political history of the country.”

Free all ISA detainees

Karpal, a trained lawyer and parliamentarian, also appealed to Najib to take immediate steps to restore the independence of the judiciary.

“The judiciary being the third arm of government should comprise of the best brains in the country to ensure protection of life and property of citizens in the country. In fact, in all spheres, the government under Najib should strive towards meritocracy.”

karpal singh charged under seditious act 170309 05 At the same time, Karpal Singh described Najib’s appointment as “not a step in the right direction”, citing that 81 opposition members of the Parliament had opposed to it.

Nevertheless, he said that it was important for Najib to gain the confidence of the rakyat now that he has assumed the top job.

Furthermore, he urged Najib to concentrate on lifting the country out of the economic doldrums.

He suggested that the new PM to relinquish his position as finance minister to Razaleigh Hamzah, who “once held the post with distinction”.

Echoing the “human rights agenda” outlined by Amnesty International today, Karpal also implored Najib to release all ISA detainees.

“The draconian Internal Security Act has been condemned not only nationally but also internationally. Najib should not ignore the poor human rights record of the country, which has affected foreign investment in the country.”