Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suddenly announced on 25 September that the UMNO elections originally scheduled in December would now be postponed to next March.

He said, "I will make the decision whether or not to seek re-election for party presidency before the divisional convention begins on 9 October."

Today is 8th of October, and it seems that the prime minister has prepared a long-awaited answer for the people of Malaysia.

In other words, if Abdullah says everything will go on as planned and he will defend his presidency in the March party elections, then he will hand over the power to his deputy only in 2010.

However, if Abdullah says he is not going to seek re-election as many political analysts have anticipated or as many UMNO members have wanted, then he will only stay in office for another five months.

Although many have expected him to announce an early power transition after the Cabinet meeting and the BN Supreme Council meeting today, he has a track record of giving people "surprises" as he has done so in the past, and it is not going to be a real surprise if he does this again today.

He has told reporters after an international conference recently: "I still have some work to complete," which leaves much for the people to guess about.

He also said, "I need to fulfill the promises I've made to the people, in particular those on judicial reforms," which seems to give Malaysians a new ray of hope for the future.

Whether he will stay or go, there is only one absolute answer. But whatever decision he makes, he has indeed two very important tasks which must be completed.

Number one, judicial reforms. As former minister in the prime minister's department Zaid Ibrahim said in his 6-page open letter to the prime minister, if Abdullah agrees to SUHAKAM's proposal to abolish the highly controversial Internal Security Act, and replace it with an anti-terrorism act, this would not only lay a solid foundation for the country's social stability in the future, but will also usher the country into a more democratic political system.

Abolishing the ISA means the government could take the opportunity to mend the strained relationship with the country's Indian community arising from the detention of five Hindraf leaders.

If Abdullah takes heed of Zaid Ibrahim's advice to abolish the ISA before he steps down, then he will leave himself a significant and glorious place in the country's history.

Secondly, setting up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). Since the proposal of its establishment in 2005, the IPCMC has gone through turbulent times, and the government eventually attempted to substitute it with the Special Complaints Commission.

The establishment of IPCMC was proposed in reaction to increased public criticisms on the efficiency, corruption, power abuse and poor quality of the country's police force. The behaviours of the police have been a representation of the country's social stability and whether it is being run effectively. If there are problems with the police's behaviours in the absence of an independent commission to check their acts, then chaos will take over.

Since taking office a few years ago, Abdullah has been stressing on the need of thrashing corruption and red tapes. It should be an important duty for him to seek the passing of the bill which will see the establishment of this independent commission that will truly maximise the functionality of the police force while eradicating corruption from its onset.

It is a norm for a leader to come and go. However, if Abdullah can do great works for the people before he leaves his office, he will earn himself a respectable place in history. (By TAN POH KHENG/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)