It is early days yet to know, let alone judge, how Pak Lah will run the country. Will he embark on a radical overhaul of the entire system? I doubt if he will want to, or be allowed to.

Judging from history, none of our prime ministers have ever presided over a truly democratic and equality based country. All of them have used the Internal Security Act against their political

opponents. Even Dr Mahathir was against the ISA when he was out of Umno in the 1960s. But he did not hesitate to use it in 1987 to clamp down on dissent when the ISA suited his needs.

We live in a country where the system has evolved around race-based politics over the years. Malaysia, without this brand of politics, means no Umno, MCA, MIC, PBB etc. This System will do whatever is necessary to ensure its continued survival and existence. Too many parties with self-vested interests stand to lose if the system collapses.

I am reminded by my caution to a friend several years ago when I told him that I doubt whether former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim will ever make it to the number one position. I simply told him that the system will not allow this to happen. This was before the 1997 currency crisis. I also did not think then that Ghaffar Baba will ever succeed Dr Mahathir.

Call me a pessimist if you want to but my gut feeling tells me that Pak Lah's reign will not herald the dawn of a more democratic Malaysia.

I sincerely hope Pak Lah proves me dead wrong in the end.