I am not sure what Abdul Malik's retaliation o­n Khoo Kay Peng is about. I am trying to understand the connection between anti-war rallies, Islam, Saddam Hussein and Malaysia's own 'Malay special rights'.

Khoo is not talking about the oppression within Malaysia under the pretext of 'Malay special rights'. He is merely trying to make people realise that in the midst of anti-war rallies, let's not forget the cruelty of Saddam.

Khoo is asking the Muslim nations to send a strong message to Saddam that even though they oppose the aggression o­n Iraq (which is not justified), it does not mean that Saddam's ways are fully supported. No religion teaches people to kill the other. It's o­nly the interpretation of man that causes ethnic cleansing or 'holy wars' as to speak. In Saddam's case, his cruelty o­n (fellow Muslims) the Kurds.

The Gulf War a decade ago was a justifiable act by America with the majority of the world in support but the current war threat is a different agenda totally. America and Britain have their economical welfare to protect and gain from this war. But the rest of the world has a lot to lose if this war breaks out. Let me remind Abdul that this war will have an indirect influence o­n the economic situation of every home in Malaysia. We were shielded during the previous o­ne, but if the war breaks out now, definitely you and I will feel the pain.

So Abdul, the matter at hand is the war o­n Iraq and not your Malay rights.

Personally as a Malaysian, the Malay special rights do not bother me anymore. If the Malays feel that they must still have rights after half a century of independence, then so be it. As for me, I have to work harder to progress in every aspect of life. And if working harder makes me a better person then it is my gain as a human being. At the end of the day, I go to bed proudly that
all my wealth is created by my own hands and not handed to me.