As Abdullah Ahmad Badawi embarks on his third year at the helm, the prime minister has been urged to put into action promises he made over the past two years.

DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng cited the problems which emerged under Abdullah's leadership, notably slower economic growth , rising federal government debt, a slip in the United Nations Human Development Index and Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index .

"Malaysians do not want him to fail but unless bold moves are taken, his performance will never match the power of his promises," he said in reference to the many promises made during the previous general elections which brought Abdullah a landslide victory.

Lim suggested that one of the 'bold moves' which could rekindle the 'feel good' sentiments of the 2004 general elections, was for Abdullah to immediately sack International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.

According to Lim, the embattled minister was, "totally discredited after the new national automotive policy abolished franchise APs (Approved Permits) that created the AP kings," he said, referring to the well-connected few who had benefitted from the system.

Lim also reminded Abdullah not to delay the implementation of the remaining half of the 125 recommendations by the Royal Police Commission and also making the Anti-Corruption Agency to be answerable solely to Parliament.

PAS 'very worried'

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaffar said that the Islamic opposition party was "very worried" that democratic freedom remains elusive since the retirement of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He lamented that several Internal Security Act detainees, including the son of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, held during Mahathir's rule are still in detention without trial for more than two years.

"There is also an extreme obsession of control in the local universities. The party regards the recent campus elections as the most undemocratic in the nation's history," Kamaruddin told malaysiakini .

He added that Abdullah had plenty of room for improvement and that one of his priorities was to produce a clear economic policy and a head-on approach to tackling corruption.

Echoing Lim, Kamaruddin felt that Abdullah had made little significance in terms of ridding the country of corruption.