Back in 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led the Barisan Nasional coalition to a resounding victory at the national polls, winning 198 out of 220 available seats in Parliament. Even by our generally one-sided election patterns, this victory was a stunning one. The rakyat had given a man they believed had the ability to lead Malaysia further into the 21st century a mandate of almost 90%.

As one of those mass BN voters, I still remember the mottos and taglines that Pak Lah had used so effectively during his campaign.'Work with me, not for me' and 'We hold the people's trust, we must therefore be trusted' were among the more prominent campaign mantras that convinced Malaysians that Pak Lah and his team were worth the trip to the polling station.

These tags complemented his promised anti-corruption drive, his Islamic Hadhari notion - where a moderate Islamic state presided over religious fundamentalism - as well as his efforts to reignite the stuttering civil service. Things looked interesting.

A couple of years down the road and many of his promises seem to be falling into that standard bin of wasted political pledges. Again, as one of those who voted him in, I'm disturbed that we stand today in a political climate that is sans stability and reasonability.

The way in which Pak Lah's administration has dealt with issues begs various questions. The way in which he has dealt with corruption, for instance, as well as the way in which he has fared in international politics has raised many eyebrows. What is the political end game of this man who looked so sure of himself three years ago yet seems to be hesitant of his current position as commander of Malaysia?

The way in which he has responded to former prime minister Dr Mahathir' Mohamad's questions of his leadership, too, has been a puzzling disappointment. Mahathir's queries on the cancelled bridge, the Proton situation and the rumoured roles played by Pak Lah's son-in-law and son in the current administration have not been met with strong, resounding answers but instead were met with weak and unsubstantiated rebuttals.

Of course, the mainstream media, the same that for years has been accused of being Mahathir's 'spokespersons', have now even gone to an extent of branding the former premier as a stumbling block to the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the nation's latest development map that Pak Lah has apparently crafted.

Surely a matured set of answers to Mahathir's questions instead of the malicious and continuous usage of the term 'venomous' to his queries would have led to a productive solution to the issue. Instead, Pak Lah, who continues to tell us he leads an open and transparent government, decides that dismissing the 82-year-old Tun is an easier solution than actually answering him.

Oscar Wilde wrote sarcastically that democracy means simply 'the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people' and the Pak Lah administration seems to be an expert at doing so under the guise of integrity and reason.

Bludgeoning Mahathir via the mainstream media unfortunately shows the lack of political maturity and a distinct lack of responsibility Pak Lah seems to have when confronted with a serious issue. And as prime minister, president of Umno, chairman of the OIC and Asean leader, and as a father and father-in-law, I'm sure he has to deal with serious issues every day.

Is this man worth my vote again?