After reading the replies to the columns that were written by Fathi Aris Omar and myself that made the pages of malaysiakini , I was struck by an overpowering sense of paralysis, despair and hopelessness. It appears that - to quote the letter by Brenda S - some of the supporters of the reformasi movement have such 'thin skins' that they are not able to take any kind of criticism whatsoever, even when it comes from those who were - and remain - sympathetic to the reformasi cause.

What is worse, some have even gone as far as claiming that 'established' academics, writers and activists like myself have nothing to say or do for the long-term cause, which is precisely why I have decided to address the matter in this, my final column, for malaysiakini .