I cautiously take note of the announcement by Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak of the formation of a committee that will focus on reducing the national budgetary deficit to 3% by 2015. An economic undertaking of that feat could have easily been achieved through strict economic governance and transparent government procurement without the need for any new taxes or cutting of essential government expenditures with direct impact on the people’s livelihood.

Unfortunately, Dato’ Seri Najib continues to govern behind a veil of secrecy. There is a growing concern over his cabinet’s conduct on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations precisely because of his administration’s refusal to be transparent and inclusive during the negotiations. In fact, much of the financial burden that adds up to the ballooning national budgetary deficit also originates from his unsound vote-buying schemes that cost the public billions of ringgit in the last general election....

Walaupun sudah tidak menjadi Menteri Besar lagi namun Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat tidak pernah terputus dengan orang ramai. Setiap pagi selesai sahaja solat Subuh berduyun-duyun orang ramai menemui beliau. Kalau sebelum ini hanya hari cuti sahaja mereka datang tetapi selepas Tok Guru tidak lagi menjadi MB, mereka datang pada setiap hari.

Kerja rutin Tok Guru di pagi hari ini adalah upacara tahnik atau 'belah mulut' dan bercukur kepala bayi yang baru lahir. Pagi ini, kira-kira 20 bayi ditahnikkan oleh Tok Guru. Ia dilakukan dalam keadaan beliau sendiri tidak berapa sihat. Ini kerana sebelum melakukan upacara itu beliau terpaksa diurut oleh tukang urutnya kerana sakit pinggang. Namun keletihan yang jelas kelihatan pada wajah beliau hilang apabila Datuk Tamrin Abdul Ghafar yang datang bertemu beliau di pagi hari ini....