At least one person is not convinced by the premier's lack of "inspiration" to carry out a much anticipated cabinet reshuffle since he has to focus on the outline of the 9th Malaysia Plan.

In a statement today, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang called this "not credible".

"It begs the question as to whether it not equally important to have a reformed cabinet of 'towering' ministers to be collectively responsible for the 9th Malaysia Plan, than to leave it in the hands of an unreformed cabinet!"he said.

He said the premier should not dilly-dally any further in carrying out a radical and far-reaching cabinet reshuffle.

"Downsizing its bloated composition to create a lean and robust cabinet where every minister stands out as a standard-bearer for integrity and reform," he said.

He said Abdullah's statement yesterday on the absence of inspiration was the most incredible one made in 26 months as prime minister.

Unresolved issues

Lim argued that there is a gap between rhetoric and deed, and that it typifies the greatest weakness of Abdullah's cabinet and administration.

"The stalemate (over the reshuffle) raises the question whether Abdullah's unprecedented 92 percent landslide general election victory has empowered or paralysed his reform pledge and programme," he said.

He said it was a "first world infrastructure, third world mentality" in the current administration.

He cited the Approved Permit scandal, colossal and unaccounted losses by government-linked companies like MAS and Proton, a breakdown in government standards, the death of Dr Liew Boon Horng, the injustices in the M Moorthy case and the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories)(Amendment) Bill 2005 as examples of recent unresolved issues.

Lim singled out Higher Education Minister Shafie Salleh, asking what he has to show for the past 22 months of his tenure in the cabinet.

He blamed the minister for the plunge in the international ranking of Universiti Malaya - the country's most prestigious university.

"Shafie's unique contribution is best captured by a current higher education advertisement distinguishing between universities and colleges producing 'employable' and 'unemployable' graduates!" he added.