Given that we Malaysians are usually not given a complete and truthful picture of events and tragedies that befall us, I am rather satisfied with the little progress that has been made in transparent conduct to the public under the leadership of Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, especially with regard to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) scare.

I do hope that this is the beginning of more disclosure to come, with wider coverage o­n matters of public interest and access to life-and-death information, which would inevitably help breathe confidence to the system.