Two years after its launching by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) was tabled again in Parliament for a mid-term review. Debate on it should be concluded by this week.

Despite the impressive numbers highlighted in the report, one couldn't help but note the ‘bearish' mood by many a parliamentarian, including, strangely enough, MPs on the government bench.

Parliamentarians from Sabah and Sarawak seemed especially gloomy, having had patiently and religiously waited for five decades for basic infrastructure like decent roads, electricity and clean water to their remote homes and good schools for their children.