Questions, questions... but not the answers that Malaysians have sought over issues that raised eyebrows as the year went by. We recap the main mysteries of 2004 to refute notions of our famously short memories.

1) Anwar Ibrahim's future

Minutes after he was freed of a sodomy conviction, reporters posed the inevitable question to former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim - what were his political plans?

He circumvented that by citing the need to go immediate surgery to correct a slipped disc, and to spend time with his family.

It sparked rampant rumours that he had made a secret deal with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Despite denials from both, speculation persisted that Anwar would rejoin Umno.

Supporters who had expected an unequivocal announcement of his allegiance to opposition parties - who had backed him during his downfall and who had led the lobby for his release from prison - were suddenly faced with uncomfortable questions stemming from his cagey statements on his political future.

Anwar has up to April 2008 to find the answer, for he is barred from active participation in politics until then because of an earlier conviction for corrupt practice.

Will it come too little, too late for those who want a clear direction right now?

2) Umno Pahang logging scandal

After at least four police reports that were lodged and two more with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) since August 2003, is it too much to expect that light would have been shed on allegations of a logging scam in Pahang ?

Apparently, the answer is 'yes', for neither the police nor the ACA have furnished the findings of their investigations to date.

In 1998, the state government allegedly awarded Umno Pahang a 10,000-acre plot of peat swamp land near Pekan, for timber extraction.

Menteri Besar and Umno state chief Adnan Yaacob lodged a police report in January countering the allegations that he had abused his power by approving the multi-million ringgit concession.

The timber businessman who made the allegations against Adnan 'walked the talk' in June - he led an eight-member team on a five-day anti-corruption walk of 240km to keep the case in the news.

But when will the authorities reveal the truth?

3) BN's 'unpaid' poll merchandise bill

How much did the ruling Barisan Nasional spend in its campaign for the March 21 general election? No one knows. Not even the Election Commission , which is supposed to act as the watchdog.

An inkling of the vast sum of money poured into the campaign was revealed in July when dozens of companies claimed that they have not been paid for supplying BN an estimated RM100 million worth of election paraphernalia.

This included plastic posters and banners, T-shirts, caps, mineral water, button badges, lapel pins, key chains, lighters and pens - all adorned with the coalition's distinctive dacing logo.

Elegant Advisory, which made the original purchasing orders, had since absconded leaving many of the suppliers in the lurch. While the supplier is believed to be a politically connected company, BN politicians have all denied involvement in the scandal.

Even after the furore, 'free' poll posters made an appearance during the Kuala Berang by-election in Terengganu a month later.

As the year closes, will those affected receive their payment?

4) Money politics in Umno

Mohd Isa Samad surprisingly obtained the highest number of votes during the Umno elections in September to step into one of the three slots available for vice-presidents, sparking allegations of rampant money politics, albeit unproven up to now.

Incumbent Muhyiddin Yasin came in a distant third, while another incumbent Muhd Muhammad Taib lost to newcomer and Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir had openly claimed that there were attempts to convert money into votes. Between RM1,000 and RM9,000 were allegedly paid to delegates, in exchange for votes for the vice-presidents' posts and supreme council seats.

Adnan, however, declined to testify against his friends before the Umno disciplinary committee, saying he "wouldn't want to jeopardise their positions".

The committee is continuing its inquiries into complaints involving hundreds of division leaders and members. It has so for suspended about 40, while 12 others received a stern warning.

To facilitate inquiries, the committee has since offered immunity to delegates who come forward with evidence of any wrongdoing.

Will they do so and how will this affect the line-up?

5) Oil-for-food scam

Who is the 'Abdullah Badawi' named as having made financial gains via deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in an illicit deal involving the United Nations-administered oil-for-food programme some years ago?

Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi loudly denied having any "deal or share" in the matter. He, however, did admit writing in support of some Malaysian businessmen who were interested in participating in the legal oil-for-food programme.

Abdullah's namesake was among thousands implicated in a report by the United States-formed Iraq Survey Group (ISG) that looked into how Saddam took advantage of the programme through an illegal 'surcharge' to generate an estimated US$1.7 billion in revenue.

The report had said 'Abdullah Badawi' made a tidy profit of as much as US$1.3 million in the transaction.

The government said it would investigate how the premier's name was linked to the matter.

Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar went further to say he wanted to know malaysiakini 's 'intentions' in breaking the story.

Earlier this month, however, Syed Hamid said that the government would not investigate the matter as "there is no truth in the allegation".

Fine, but we are still far from knowing this: Who is 'Abdullah Badawi'?

6) VIPs in corruption probe

The revelation of 18 corruption cases involving "high-ranking individuals and decision makers" has so far thrown up only a few individuals - small fries, as they have been dubbed by opposition politicians - to be charged to date.

They include ex-Perwaja managing director Eric Chia and former land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam .

Former de facto law minister Rais Yatim said in February that more high-profile suspects may be taken to court in the corruption crackdown.

Those said to be still under investigation include former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik (RM1.2 billion corporate acquisition), former Pahang Mentri Besar Khalil Yaacob (logging scam), and Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo (RM100 million land and government projects).

Why are we waiting?

7) Alleged terrorists

Several members of the purported Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) continue to be held indefinitely without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA), although a few were released from the Kamunting detention camp this year.

More than 80 alleged Islamic militants - including alleged members of al-Qaeda-linked regional terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah (JI) - are also being detained despite demands to charge them or set them free.

The detainees have complained of being subjected to human rights violations including physical and emotional abuse. They claimed that prison authorities have, among others, shaved their hair and beards as well as prevented them from praying. The authorities have denied this.

Even as the authorities maintain the need for the 44-year-old security law, the KMM detainees are waiting to find out why they are deemed to be terrorists.

8) NUBE's never-ending story

What has gone wrong in the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)?

The 28,000-member union has been in a leadership tussle since 2001. Even after countless peacemaking attempts by various parties and numerous legal suits, they are no closer to reaching an amicable solution.

A threat by the human resources minister, to deregister the union if the problems are not solved, has had no effect.

So, what is the problem ? In a nutshell, two sets of people are claiming to be the legitimate office-bearers and each allege that the other group was unlawfully elected.

Yet another a spanner was thrown in the works when the High Court dismissed an application for a judicial review of the powers of the Director-General of Trade Union to conduct elections.

After the ruling, the parties did say they would consider an out-of-court settlement. However past failures only indicate that the sorry state of affairs in NUBE is not about to find closure any time soon.

9) Missing Suhakam commissioners

The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has 17 commissioners, but only a couple appeared active this year. Commissioner Hamdan Adnan should be given a slap in the back for being the most diligent of the lot.

On one instance , none of the 17 appointed commissioners were present to meet complainants of human rights abuse.

Activists and family members of detainees being held at the Simpang Renggam centre in Johor had gone to the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 17 - the day after a long stretch of public holidays ended - to find out that not a single commissioner was in the building.

The group had wanted to submit a complaint and memorandum relating to a hunger strike at the detention centre, where human rights abuses were said to have occurred.

Subsequent checks with Suhakam revealed that the commissioners - who hold the position on a part-time basis - were not around for two more days. Vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun was unable to explain their absence.

To date, Suhakam has not provided a full explanation. It attributed the lapse to "mis-communication" and said the matter has been explained to the parties involved.

10) Malaysiakini 's publishing licence

Malaysia has a new leader who has promised reform, among others, by fighting endemic corruption and providing greater transparency in government. But one thing that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not promised is press freedom.

So it was not surprising that online daily malaysiakini 's application for a currently affairs print weekly, which was submitted in September 2002, has been put in cold storage.

In June, Abdullah strongly hinted in answer to a parliamentary question that the government would not approve the application, citing fears that the publication would be "prejudicial and jeopardise national security and public order".

He said that the online version was "sufficient" as a channel to disseminate information to the public.

Malaysiakini wants to broaden its reach beyond cyberspace. Its operations were strengthened with a Bahasa version launched in November, while the Chinese version and a Lifestyle section will follow early next year.

Is there still hope for a print licence?

X-files 2003: Unresolved cases

X-files 2002: The saga continues

X-files 2001: New entries

Top 10 news of 2004

And the Newsmaker of 2004 is...