Well Done Senator Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir.

Now this is what I term a real call for transparency and if the government is serious about its claims of openness, this is the time to truly walk the talk. It was rather surprising that the Senate was the place where the request came from. What am I talking about? Read on....

A senator Tuesday asked the government to publish the names of contractors awarded tenders for the 880 first roll-out of projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to show it is truly transparent. Senator Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said this step would prevent criticisms and allegations against the government over the award of projects.

He said that if the government could publish the list of tenders in the press and internet, the same could be done for the results of the tender exercise. "We want to know who get the projects," he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently announced the roll-out of 880 projects costing RM15 billion.

Now that the demand/request by the good Senator is out in the open, how receptive do you think the government will be? If it complies and gives all the details, firstly it will shore up the government's credibility and secondly it will set a precedent for the future and no administration from now on can attempt to hide under the cloak of rahsia. We'll know soon enough won't we?