All this talk about the depressing new cabinet is a bit overblown.

Pak Lah has tried to insert new people. If he went all out and dumped the former lot - out with the old and in with the new, as they say - he might find himself commanding a ship with an inexperienced crew and Malaysia has always been a rough political sea.

Critics are many but ideas are few.

Pak Lah needs to mix a blend of old and new to ensure that the ship does not sink before it sails. Balance is needed to ensure that change runs smoothly. Doing anything cold turkey is not the solution.