Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's strong dismissal of the opposition's views on the new cabinet line-up could be the first sign of peril, warned DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today.

He said the premier's reaction was not only surprising given his claim to humility prior to the polls, but it also spelt trouble for the future of clean governance.

"How can he (ask to) hear the truth from the people when he is not even prepared to hear the truth from the opposition and its elected representatives?" he asked in a press statement.

In addition to his pledge to eradicate graft, Abdullah had also promised to listen to the truth, however unpalatable, and work with all Malaysians to clean up the government.

Address concerns

Observers and opposition leaders were, however, disappointed to see many old faces retained in the new cabinet line-up announced Saturday.

Responding to this, Abdullah had launched a salvo against the opposition.

"They will always be sceptical. Since when have they said anything good about what we have done? I will run the government and I will run it my way," newspapers quoted him today as saying.

Lim said the premier was wrong if he implied that DAP had never commended him for his pledges and actions.

"The difference between DAP and BN leaders is that we are prepared to give both brickbats and bouquets to the government. BN leaders however, are only apple polishers, a disease which has become so serious that Abdullah had to publicly declare that he wants to hear the truth," he added.

Instead of dismissing valid and legitimate criticism that his first cabinet had failed the important criteria of integrity, he said Abdullah should address the concerns involving the controversial ministers.

The DAP leader also warned that the ninth-tenth majority secured by the BN coalition in the recently concluded general election "should set off alarm bells that things could go very wrong".