AS expected, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be calling it a day come March next year.

It cannot be denied that pressure and developments on several fronts contributed to this decision.

There was a sense of hope when he first became PM and was given a huge mandate to propel the country to greater heights. However, whatever was promised did not come at a pace fast enough to satisfy the populace.

He will be remembered for the greater freedom and flexibility that accompanied his years in office. His reform agendas must still be continued. The implementation of the Judicial Appointment Commission, Malaysia Anti-Corruption Agency and Special Complaints Commission will certainly be a worthy legacy.