With the impending retirement of Dr Mahathir, I hope our Parliament will regain its rightful place as the real ultimate law-making body.

Rais's involvement following ACA's investigation on the 14 MPs who claimed in excess of RM10,000 a month in expenses, was really unnecessary. In fact it was an affront to Parliament's supremacy in our country. It started with Noh Omar's cheap shot at a PAS MP's highest claim with the intention of discrediting PAS and it backfired.

If ever Rais should be concerned, it should be over claims by ministers and chief ministers who are used to treating BN business as official.

What else can ACA investigation reveal but actual claims approved by those in charge in Parliament? If those with the authority cannot even check simple claims, then they should not be there in the first place.

In the case of the seven Umno Puteri being employed by Election Commission, the real issue is whether there was such a letter from Azalina to EC and not whether EC can employ Umno Puteri members or anybody. Azalina, being a lawyer, should know what is legal, ethical or moral. The EC chairperson's efforts at covering up seemed pathetic. Rafidah Aziz's spin only made it worse.

The good thing is that now, in spite of the obnoxious Official Secrets Act which has the perceived purpose of preventing whistle-blowing, there are enough people who care to spill the beans.

The prime minister's call to veteran BN politicians to make way for new leaders is also timely. Instead of hanging on to those who are tainted by accusations of corruption and so on, BN should select only those who have clean record and reputation. Otherwise, it will only show that it lacks leaders who are capable enough to take over from the veterans.