Over the next four weeks, the world will engage in a different level of international debate. Bush and Blair will be substituted... on will come Ronaldinho and Ballack. World Cup mania is on.

At a time when a team shirt means more than anything else, what colours will MPs be wearing and will they share the rakyat's excitement?

Malaysiakini contacted several to find out after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was reported by The Star as saying that he did not have a favourite team yet.

If he can stay awake, former Backbencher's Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad will surely find time to watch the matches.

"I will support the Asian teams, I want to see them do well because I don't want to see the Mat Sallehs win all the time," said the Johor Bahru MP.

When told that Japan are in the same group as defending champions Brazil, Shahrir said Japan stands a chance for a second-round ticket if they can avoid a thrashing by Brazil.

All about passion

Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chien Jen was adamant that Brazil will steamroll its way to become champions for the fifth time. The Manchester United fan claimed that no team could match Brazil's superiority on the field.

"They are playing too well for any other team to beat them!" Chong said with a hearty laugh.

Not all MPs were so enthusiastic about the 'Cup of Life'. When contacted, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok said he is too busy for football.

Although he acknowledged the possibility of his volunteers taking time off to catch the early morning telecasts, he does not expect any of his full-time staff to slack off.

"We have to set our priorities right. If I stay up too late at night, how can I concentrate on work the next morning?"

Serdang MP Yap Pian Hon had the answer to Loh's dilemma, saying: "If there's no meeting the next morning, I will surely find time to watch the live telecasts."

MCA veteran Yap, who is the former president of the Malaysian Chinese Football Association, also picked Brazil as his favourite team but did not name any favourite player.

"For players to reach the World Cup finals, they must be very good. All of them are special," he said, adding that he will be following the matches with his family members.

Too busy? Rubbish!

Chong said that it is passion that counts, not the amount of work in hand.

"Too busy? Rubbish! I will watch the replays if I can't catch the 'live' matches," he said.

Chong said he had initially planned to organise a public screening of the final on July for people in Kuching, but gave up after finding out that this would be in the wee hours of the morning here.

But while most Malaysians are busy with cup talk, one MP took another stance.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said in a SMS reply: "I don't watch football. I don't understand why people are so crazy about the ball."