Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin came under intense shelling by Malaysiakini readers for telling Malaysians that they were not ready for live telecast of parliamentary proceedings because they were not mature enough.

RJ: Perhaps the minister is afraid and embarrassed to allow Malaysians to see how parliamentarians behave in the House. For those who've been to Parliament on numerous occasions (as I have and still do), you'd know that many MPs, on a daily basis, behave like mindless nut-cases, thugs, hooligans and uneducated morons. I'm sure Malaysians, no matter what race, will enjoy the daily dose of comedy and silliness that often comes out of the House.

Or perhaps the minister is worried that Malaysians will spot that their MPs - mainly ministers - are often missing from Parliament. Constituents will not thrilled to find those they elected missing from their duties.