With reference to the report Pak Lah fails the Kit Siang test , I think Pak Lah has failed not only Lim Kit Siang's high standard test, but that of many ordinary Malaysians' as well.

There has been no major change in cabinet positions. There is still concentration of power in the prime minister's position, a practice inherited from Dr Mahathir Mohamad. There is still a lack of democratic space as evidenced by the arrest of six DAP leaders and the police break-up of a peaceful protest against the war in Iraq.

There is still a lack of urgency and political will to tackle corruption. Many cases involving politicians are still pending while new cases do not seem to get the attention of the Anti-Corruption Agency for reasons best known to them.

Already, there are signs that election promises are not going to be kept which makes us wonder just how sincere are those who made them. For instance, the promise of a parliamentary select committee to solicit views on new water resource management laws was simply reneged by at a recent cabinet meeting.

Pak Lah came in with a new slogan 'Cemerlang, Gemilang dan Terbilang' to replace Mahathir's 'Cekap Bersih dan Amanah'. And just like his predecessor, he is not living up to his slogan. In fact, as home minister, he is not such a nice guy after all.