It is common practice for commentators and pundits to evaluate the legacy of a major political figure when they step down from office. The legacies of US presidents are an obvious example. More recently, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 22-year legacy as our prime minister was put under the microscope when he stepped down in 2003.

While Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is scheduled to step down in March next year, we think that his political legacy has already been cemented. As such, now is a good a time as any to evaluate his term as PM, both the good and the bad.

We do not want to evaluate his legacy in isolation but to compare his record to that of Dr M. Naturally, his predecessor has a much longer track record as PM and during his time, he was more extreme in terms of both the good and bad things he did as compared to Abdullah, who was a much more moderate figure in terms of his actions.