Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim kit Siang's letter NST front-page report 'misses the mark' refers.

It is quite clear now that the New Straits Times' group editor-in-chief has fumbled. He just could not wait to try and humiliate Lim further.

In its hurry to attack the opposition leader, it is obvious that the NST is willing to allow for some 'no standard' reporting. The NST's top editor claimed that he was informed that Lim had launched a 'scathing' attack on senior NST editor Zainul Ariffin.

But was there really a 'scathing' attack on Zainul? Or was it fair comment by the MPs on an issue which concerned them directly?

Will the NST spend more time on ensuring that its reporters turn in better quality reports on parliamentary proceedings instead of rushing to spin tales out of issues of importance?

As for Zainul's comments on the need for our MPs to make themselves relevant, I, for one, am with him. But he shouldn't just go ahead and say that '... people just don't care any more about our MPs or what they do'.

I, for one, and lots of others I'm sure, do care and certainly want our money's worth, especially now that there is going to be a pay hike for our parliamentarians. It is because we do want to know what is really happening in Parliament that there has been a request for the proceedings to be telecast live.
It is hoped that such live telecasts will keep our MPs on their toes and force them to make themselves more relevant. Where I disagree with Zainul is when he said that: '... the real reason for not televising parliamentary proceedings is because our MPs are not ready for prime time'.

Whether they are ready or not, we, the taxpayers, have a right to follow live what goes on during parliamentary sittings and this is what the NST should be joining me and others in clamouring for.