It was a relief to read that the PM has apologised for any misdeeds done to Chinese nationals, and reprimanded Nor Omar for his anti-foreigner remark.

It is nevertheless worrying that both actions were based on what his deputy minister and the deputy police chief have said - which effectively go against his earlier directive - resulting in Abdullah appearing not having effective control over his men. Is he a lame-duck PM despite the landslide mandate?

Abdullah was the last hope I had for Malaysian democracy, but it is turning out to be just another illusion. If his problem is that 'his' men - in the cabinet and civil service - are not fully behind him, then (short of replacing these men, which he seems powerless to do) that is all the more reason why he must borrow the support of other powerful - but willing - forces in the country: the media and the Parliament.

He should set the media free, and let them expose and broadcast official misdeeds and corruption. It is only when the people know about such scandals that he and his men will truly realise the width and depth of public opinion and the support in favour of reform.

When 'his' men realise that the public opinion is strongly against them hanging on to their old feudal mentalities, they should have no more justification for resisting reform.

And he should also restore the true position and dignity of the Parliament - the most supreme among the three branches of government.

So far, the only voices we heard in the Malaysian collective consciousness are the feudalistic and anti-reformist rants of the Umnoputras, while more sensible voices of the opposition, and even among the backbenchers were completely shut out (remember the two Umno MPs who were 'disciplined' by Najib Razak for supporting a Lim Kit Siang motion in Parliament?)

The power of the speaker of Parliament to shoot down motions to debate certain pressing, current issues of public concerns is utterly anti-democratic. "The government has already looked into that issue (naked video scandal), so we don't have to debate this" - what sort of stupid excuse is that?

To allow this kind of intelligence-insulting person to shut out the entire Parliament makes a complete mockery of the fundamental idea of democratic representation and the reason why we have the Parliament in the first place.

Indeed, the PM should introduce the British and American (well, all the civilised nations) practice of public hearings or testimonies before the parliamentary select committees, where common people, NGO representatives and members of the business and professional communities can come forward to express their informed views about proposed legislative reforms.

Only then, could the Parliament play an effective role in checking and balancing the might of the executive.