Election reforms pressure group Bersih has urged Putrajaya to institute 10 major institutional reforms to prevent cabinet members from abusing their powers.

This is in view of allegations that RM2.6 billion was transferred into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak personal account.

Among others, Bersih said Putrajaya must do away with Dr Mahathir Mohamad's legacy which allowed the prime minister to simultaneously hold the portfolio of Finance Minister.

Najib has held the position of Finance Minister since coming to power in April 2009.  Mahathir was Finance Minister between September 1998 and January 1999 and again between June 2001 and October 2003.

The fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held the Finance Minister during his entire premiership between October 2003 and April 2009.

This means that of all three, Najib has the record of being the longest serving prime minister-cum-finance minister.

Fundamental changes

Najib is currently under heavy scrutiny due to 1MDB's business decisions. The company was established by the Finance Ministry after Najib took reigns. His written approval is also needed for the company's key decisions.

This has been exacerbated a Wall Street Journal report which alleged that nearly US$700 million was channeled into his personal account.

Among other institutional changes sought by Bersih are:

  • Legislative changes to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to be answerable to Parliament and given prosecution powers.

  • A policy to restrict the attorney-general to being a legal consultant to the federal government and transferring prosecution powers to an independent director of public prosecution.

  • A law to compel all members of cabinet, deputy ministers, those in top public office and their spouses to declare their assets publicly.

  • Legislative changes to make the Election Commission accountable to Parliament.

  • A clean electoral roll and eliminating malapportionment of electoral boundaries before the next general election.