Not good enough - this was veteran politician and opposition leader Lim Kit Siang's candid assessment of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's performance in a number of fields over the last 17 months.

Debating the motion of thanks on the Royal address in the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon, Lim listed the premier's deficiencies in the judicial, education, economy, parliamentary affairs and religious arenas.

In a 34-page speech lasting almost two hours, he fired rounds of criticism against Abdullah's government, for such things as "disappointing" parliamentary reforms and questioned the premier's commitment to combating corruption.

He said it was a "most adverse reflection" on Abdullah's commitment and administration when Malaysia's ranking fell two places to six in the latest Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy's annual corruption table for Asia.

The DAP supremo and Ipoh Timor MP also criticised the government for failing to recognise International Mother Tongue Education Day, saying the government should have taken full advantage on the country's cultural diversity.

Also in the line of fire was former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for a recent remark about a request made for more Chinese schools to be built.

Lim said Mahathir was "very wrong" for saying this was not related to good education.

Suggestions for the PM

Lim offered several suggestions to Abdullah, including calling for formation of "a grand coalition against corruption" that comprises of political parties, non-governmental organisations, media and the government's anti-corruption bodies.

He called for establishment of a royal commission on judicial reform to be headed by Param Cumaraswamy, the former United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

"The system of judicial appointments has not worked well at all, or the country would not have been plunged into a protracted national and international crisis of confidence in the accountability, independence, impartiality and integrity of the judiciary," Lim said.

In an interview with malaysiakini last May, Lim had said he would give Abdullah two years to deliver his pledges for reform and good governance.

With this in mind, he told Abdullah to work up "second wind" with new energy and enthusiasm in the next seven months to deliver his pledges of a clean, incorruptible, efficient, accountable, trustworthy and people-oriented government.

He also corrected Abdullah's remark early this month that the latter's honeymoon period was over, saying that the usual honeymoon period (for those taking office) is the first 100 days and not 500 days.

"Although we are from different political parties, we are all Malaysians and we want Abdullah to succeed and to bridge the present disconnect between reality and rhetoric in political, socio-economic, educational and government reforms," he said.

He also said Malaysians do not want to see a repeat of a new premier starting with great promises which are later not honoured and, worse, resulting in taking the country backwards.

Lim will continue with his debate tomorrow.