Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's performance - especially his election promise to battle corruption, promote transparency and revamp the venal and inefficient police force - is under the spotlight as the 65-year-old leader enters the second half of his term struggling to redress excesses under the long rule of his predecessor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Abdullah, who took over in 2003, starts his third year in office this week and Malaysians - from ordinary people to opposition politicians and human rights activists - have begun to wonder if he has begun to backtrack on his pledges.