Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has been handed a portfolio that is a 'first' in local terms. In this exclusiv interview, he explains how he intends to handle parliamentary affairs and considers his future in politics.

Malaysiakini: Why do we need three separate systems - your ministry, the parliamentary whip and the Backbenchers Club - to keep BN MPs in check?

Nazri Abdul Aziz: When we want to make changes, we cannot be dictated by what people outside think. What is important for me is that I must do the changes. I have set my mind to it, and I intend to carry it out. Now that we've won 90 percent of the seats, BN must be visible in the chambers.

It is human nature to see people slacking, including MPs. That is why we have the whip. The moment we see a slackening in attendance, we use the whip. We are keeping tabs on everyone, and have informed them that they have to buck up, or not expect to be nominated next time around. The main fear of all MPs is that they will not be nominated.

It is a daunting task, but my goal is to ensure that there are at least 40 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. With the parliamentary quorum being 26, 40 looks like a respectable number. Remember that half (of the MPs) are in government posts and will have other work to attend to. I also cannot implement the buddy system yet because the Backbenchers Club has not been formed yet.

By coincidence, this time around (Opposition Leader Lim) Kit Siang is here to talk about having a 'First World Parliament'. I'm also lucky because the prime minister, Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), has also indicated that he wants to be active in Parliament and (has decided) to come and answer questions twice a week. So it has been good for me from every angle. Everyone is of the same mind.

Will the Public Accounts Committee take on the role of a watchdog?

When I went to the DAP seminar last week, I explained why we cannot give the chairmanship to the opposition. As I said in my reasoning, the opposition party in the UK and US was once the government. So they have the experience. Here in Malaysia, neither DAP, PAS or Keadilan have experience (in forming the) government. If they chair the PAC, they may step on other people's toes and go beyond what is expected of them. That is why in Malaysia, we strongly feel the chairmanship must be with the governing party.

It is not correct what Kit Siang says. In PAC, you can actually summon heads of departments to come and explain to you. There are certain things...as the government, we know the sensitivities - what we can do and cannot do, which the opposition cannot do.

What are the sensitivities?

There must be, there must be. Sometimes certain things are done for national interest which may be sensitive. Because the opposition has never formed the government, they may want to blare everything. That's how the opposition's thinking works. We in government know that there are sensitivities, which is why we have the Official Secrets' Act, and that the PAC chairmanship will have to belong to a BN MP because only then will they know (the limits). This is the reality.

What about the government's call for transparency?

This (secrecry) is not only practised in Malaysia. If you look at the US, Britain, there are things which they don't reveal. The ideal situation is that everything must be transparent. In governing, this does not happen. For example in the US, no one is allowed to take pictures of the coffins of American soldiers. It shows that even in America, there are certain rules which disallows certain information to be published.

How will the PAC work?

They will scrutinise the accounts. And if they find something wrong in the figures, they will summon the chiefs of companies or heads of departments to explain. If they are not happy with the explanation and feel there are corrupt elements in the case, they will then forward it to the Anti-Corruption Agency for investigation. Their function is to ensure public money is spent properly.

As you know, the deputy chair is from DAP, Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong). In future, the trend will be like this for all parliamentary committees. For the select committees, we will have the chairperson from BN and the deputy from the opposition. We don't wish to do window-dressing and waste everyone's time. We would like the committees to go to the ground and perform. When it comes to the select committee to look into the Criminal Procedure Code for example, (both opposition and BN) have a common interest - that no injustice should be inflicted onto the public. Selection of members can be expected within this (parliamentary) session.

Given that previous Suhakam reports were ignored, will its coming report be debated in Parliament?

What we will do is to forward the relevant parts of their findings to the select committee. This time around, we will note that their findings are important to us. Their findings have also been very general. But in Parliament we have to debate motions, questions or bills. To be debated in Parliament, Suhakam's recommendations must come in one of these forms. On its own, we will not be able to discuss Suhakam's findings. In any case, Suhakam's report was never meant to be debated in Parliament.

What about opposition motions...

I am prepared to allow debate for any motion that comes to Parliament, like the one raised by Kit Siang on the EC (Election Commission). We also have grievances against the EC. But it should not be to the extent that we invalidate the elections. Why should we? We won big! There was no foul play. If there was any mistake, it was mistakes made by EC, not by us.

But regarding the impeachment of the EC chief, to be very honest, we don't agree with it. If the opposition wishes to discuss the inefficiencies of the EC, we can do that. We have nothing to hide; we have not cheated the Malaysian public on the election results. But impeachment of the EC chair is not something we agree with.

About Umno, what's your stand on open contest for party posts?

The post of the president and deputy president of Umno cannot be challenged. Umno cannot bring down the prime minister, who is elected by the people. If Umno is allowed to challenge the president of Umno, and if say the president loses, he would have to give up the post by which he has been elected by the people (as head of BN)...which is why we don't allow challenges to the top two posts - not because we are undemocratic, but doing so would mean Umno is more powerful than the people.

By convention, the leader of biggest party will be prime minister. Of course, Zaid Ibrahim (left) would want to justify why he wishes to contest the vice-president's post. Why was this not heard before the formation of cabinet? Why now? But challenges within the party are not something new.

What about Umno Youth?

In my view there will be no contest. (Umno Youth chief) Hisham (Hishammuddin Hussein Onn) won uncontested. If you assess his competitors, none match up to him. It will be a waste of time for those who wish to challenge him. They won't win.

How do you see yourself in Umno?

I'm just making up the numbers. Malaysian politics requires 31 cabinet members, I just happen to make up the numbers, that's all.

You have taken the lead in challenging PAS. How do you think you are perceived within Umno?

I don't do things because I expect something else. I responded on the spur of the moment to (those) issues. I debated with PAS because they were going around lying about us. Like (PAS Youth chief) Salahuddin (Ayub) for example, he told Parliament that the government plans to shut down the Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR). It affects me. Firstly, I am a cabinet member. Secondly, I am a Muslim. Why would I shut down SAR?

(This) is why I was prepared to debate with him at any time. Because I know he is wrong, and I know I am right. I am in the cabinet. I know what decisions we have made.

Similarly with the DAP forum. I don't know what was the big deal about attending. Similarly, I don't understand why other BN politicians who were invited didn't want to go. We are not going to die or anything like that. At least, I can explain BN's stand on the issue. I respect freedom of expression. You can hurt me, that is all right. I think the public is wise enough to make their own judgement. You can see Kit Siang whacking me, but I let it be. That is his right.

Where do you see your career headed in Umno?

I think when you are carrying out your responsibilities, you also must be prepared to leave your position one day. I accept the fact that probably this term will be my last because there are so many good leaders and MPs from Umno who are waiting to take over. I have the accept the reality that I am not extraordinary. I believe in regeneration. If it is time to go, then I willingly must go. There is life after politics.

Is there generational change in Umno?

I think so. Among the MPs, I have been informed there is a 38 percent change. If you talk about Umno, this change is more that 40 percent. It is a good thing. Nobody is indispensable.

Would this same logic extend to cabinet? Is the current cabinet merely an interim one and will we see further changes?

No, the present cabinet is not an interim cabinet. It is the prime minister's cabinet. I think he has the responsibility to ensure a good mix of old and new faces. Having a new cabinet does not mean you have to kick out the old faces who are good ministers. So it is a good mix. But some of those who should go, they go.

Who else will be going?

No, I'm not talking about anyone else, just myself. I don't think I should impose (my thinking) on anybody, this is just what I feel and what I am prepared to do. For my own self, I think I am right. You must recognise the importance of party regeneration. You must be prepared to go willingly. There is life after politics. I have served in government since 1990; 14 years already. I have been in politics - in Umno Youth exco - since I was 24. It's enough.

Dr Tajol Rosli ( right ) is also thinking of leaving... Regeneration is important, otherwise we end up like the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) in Japan.

Have you been cleared of the taxi permit allegations?

At this stage I think I'm okay. There were four criteria we had to meet before we were allowed to contest the general election. (The requirements were that) candidates should not be involved in corruption cases, not be bankrupt and not have any criminal case brought against them. So I can probably safely assume that I have passed all these requirements.