KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: His political career seriously threatened by the outcome of this month’s general elections, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi seems ready to institute badly needed reforms, going by his inclusion of some of his bitterest critics in the new cabinet. Badawi has also dropped Mahathir Mohamad-era veterans who had resisted change.

Baradan Kuppusamy of IPS wrote (20 Mar) that to assuage feelings that Badawi has failed to promote transparency and accountability, as promised, he has announced that his ministers will now be required to declare their assets. "The people must know, they have a right to know," a chastened Badawi said.

But is this a case of too little, too late? Some observers think so, but others say the dismal showing at the polls is finally forcing Badawi to making tough decisions that he has avoided so far since winning a huge mandate in 2004, promising to end Mahathir era excesses.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said Badawi’s new cabinet sends mixed signals that he is finally listening to the grouses of the voters. "However, time might not be on his side," Lim told IPS.

In the Mar. 8 polls Badawi’s ruling 14-party National Front (or Barisan Nasional) government lost five state governments to the Anwar Ibrahim-led opposition coalition. The NF also lost the two-thirds majority it had enjoyed since independence in 1957.

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