PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to retire at this juncture is premature, ill-conceived, a great mistake and disastrous from the point of view of the reforms which he has entrusted himself to undertake in the judiciary and elsewhere.

Abdullah said he would spend the rest of his time left to him as prime minister to do so.

But if Zaid Ibrahim, a lawyer, said he had difficulties in seeing his proposals through the cabinet, how will the prime minister seek to do so, within the very limited time and resources he has at his disposal?

Abdullah should have stood his ground against all odds.

In politics, to win or lose is part and parcel of a political life.
Winston Churchil is a portrayal of that character.