The Group of Concerned Citizens wants Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to choose a cabinet comprising persons of "superior ability, clean repute and high principles".

Among the qualities listed by the Malaysian Indian-based civil society network, in a two-page memorandum, are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, honesty and leadership.

A copy of the memorandum was submitted to Abdullah in Putrajaya today. It was received by his assistant press secretary Wan Esuriyanti Wan Ahmad.

The group's coordinator Charles Santiago (photo) said it was important for Abdullah to consider the listed criteria if he is serious about delivering on the Barisan Nasional's election promises.

"Forming cabinet is his first major activity in the new term. So, it is crucial that he chooses the right members in order to make good on his team's election promises, one of which is to wipe out corruption," he said when met later.

Clear message

He added that the formation and constitution of the cabinet should send a clear message on Abdullah's seriousness in dealing with corruption.

"There is no question that those already implicated by police reports or probes by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should be left out of the new line-up.

"We would like to appeal to Abdullah to refrain from appointing persons widely-perceived to be tainted with allegations of corruption," said Santiago.

Since corruption was the mainstay of the recently-concluded general election, he said Abdullah's choice for cabinet must reflect the BN's promise because "the rakyat will scrutinise the appointments".

"This document is a civil society audit of the government's promise. Given the reduced number of opposition members in parliament, it is imperative that citizens play a bigger and more influential role on governing the country," he added.

Two other coordinators, S Pasupathi and K Arumugam, also signed the document.

Another proposal was for cabinet ministers, their deputies and parliamentary secretaries to annually declare their assets to the prime minister, the ACA and the public through parliament.

"They should declare remunerated directorships or employment with a description of the business activity, all forms of investments, minority corporate ownership and all properties, among other items," said Santiago.

Escrow account

As for personal wealth, he said they could be placed in an escrow account where the fund's movements could be monitored, similar to the practice in the US.

He said the assets of family members should also be declared to avoid any conflict of interest, such as in the case of Abdullah's son, Kamaluddin.

"Confidence in Abdullah's administration will increase if the public has an oversight of the assets and interests of cabinet ministers during their term in office."

Santiago said it was insufficient for allegations of corruption to be cleared by the police or the ACA.

"Most importantly, they (those tainted by such allegations) must be cleared in the eyes of the public."

Among the ministers in the previous cabinet accused of corruption were International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz, Works Minister S Samy Vellu, Entrepreneur Development Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, Second Finance Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis and Deputy Education Minister Aziz Shamsuddin.