Corruption is often defined as the abuse of power for private gain. Based on this, corruption would include bribery, nepotism, cronyism and all other unethical acts. Knowing this, Pak Lah promised the people of Malaysia - during the last general elections - that stamping out corruption would be his crusade as a prime minister.

Recent reports clearly illustrate that Pak Lah is failing miserably in keeping his promise to the rakyat. His silence on many issues speak volumes on his inability as a prime minister. It sounds harsh but the facts speak for themselves.

I am a realist and I know that stamping out corruption is a long drawn out process and the chances are it would not happen in my lifetime. But Pak Lah could have started by taking action on some of the issues listed below:

1. Removing S Samy Vellu as a minister for conduct unbecoming of a minister. Samy's obvious disregard for any form of accountability is a good enough reason for his removal.

2. Implementing the IPCMC and taking action against the police officers that threatened the government and the people if the IPCMC was established.

3. Ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption, which Malaysia signed in 2003 amidst great fanfare. The convention came into force last year but Malaysia has yet to ratify it.

4. Making the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) answerable to Parliament and abolishing the present system where they answer to him.

These issues are well within his power but he obviously lacks the political will to do anything concrete that would be beneficial to people of this country. So far, Pak Lah has been a great

disappointment.

He promised to walk the talk but now only remains silent, deaf the pleas of the Malaysian people.