RTM. The acronym Malaysians have to live with has been directed to "look into the live telecast of Parliament sessions" following criticism that the broadcasting station was selective in its telecasts.

The Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker said RTM should take note of the criticism. Earlier a BN MP told the House that he had received numerous telephone calls and text messages from the public complaining about the State-run television channel.

"Let's do it like what it used to be... live telecast from 10am to 10.30am. If there are incidents like fighting during the telecast, then let the people be the judge," he said. Several opposition MPs have made similar observations.

Thanks for your concern, YB.

AIRY OPTIMISM

POSITIVE spin. That's what some might call it but we call it optimism. After all, every dark cloud has a silver lining. With a journalistic spin on these clichés, the national news agency ran this headline: "Healthy air in most parts of Malaysia".

The report began, "Air quality in most areas nationwide remained good this evening despite several areas showing an increase in the Air Pollutant Index."

It also noted an increase in areas with moderate API readings. While listing all those areas where the air is good, Bernama did note the unhealthy levels of pollution elsewhere. It said "Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur showed the highest level of 84."

You really want bad news?

SCALES OF JUSTICE

BLIND, it might be, but the law isn't always loved. A former timber trader was jailed three months by the High Court for making scathing comments against some judges in an originating summons he filed in seeking action to be taken against them.

"Your action blemished the reputations of the judges involved and is an offence that is very serious. You claimed that any decisions made by them are wrong, without compassion, biased, unfair and made without a fair hearing, when in fact they are only discharging their duties as judges," said the judge.

At least he wasn't as bold as Mr Bumble in Dicken's Oliver Twist, who called the law a ... mule-like creature.