There have been many criticisms against premier-in-waiting Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or Pak Lah. Some of them are genuine grievances.

The most critical and pressing issue is whether Pak Lah would continue to shield his compatriots, Rafidah Aziz and Rahim Thamby Chik, who were 'recommended' by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to be prosecuted for alleged corruption, as revealed in the OSA documents available from the Reformis site.

Most decent Malaysians, I believe, would like to see Pak Lah establishing his authority before October next year by ordering that the two politicians be prosecuted as recommended.

If Pak Lah dodges this tough choice, he is but a mindless tool of the old regime bent on protecting its vested interests.