I agree with Dr Cheng Mui Chong that Deputy Premier and Umno deputy president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is neither here or there ('A 'D' for Pak Lah', Aug 14). Although personally amiable, he simply does not have the material for the top office. On TV, he appears to be lacking of energy and vitality, and thus uninspiring at all. Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, like them or not, are inspirational and convincing.

But what worries me the most is that in the age of high finance, economic reform and restructuring as well as globalisation, Pak Lah does not seem to have basic knowledge of the economy. As Dr Cheng described aptly, he just reads from texts prepared by someone else.

With all due respect, how can Malaysians invest their future and well-being to a good but intellectually unqualified man who only fits as a runner for a strongman? What would happen if the strongman was no longer around, for whatever reason?

Worse of all is the fact that he is still unelected in Umno. The other three vice-presidents are duly elected by Umno delegates and are therefore legitimate. Pak Lah is not. What if the three elected vice-presidents start to question or challenge him now, or after the numero uno is gone?

Perhaps, he should seriously think of giving up for the sake of the nation. There is still time before 2004 to find a better replacement.

By writing this letter, I do not mean to hurt Pak Lah personally. I am just thinking of the larger interest of the nation in longer run. I hope his supporters and other Umno members would think likewise for the good of the party, race and nation.