I appreciate Dato' Salehuddin Hashim's letter to the non-Malays . I myself, a post-Merdeka Malaysian, have taken a more participative role in politics following the 1998 debacle of Anwar Ibrahim. Not only because he was unjustly and wrongly persecuted but because for the first time in Malaysian politics I see a political party fit for all Malaysians.

No longer a party led by Umno that calls for Malay supremacy while threatening to bathe its Kris in Chinese blood when convenient, or dangling carrots in front of weak non-Malays at election time. They promise everything non-Malays wish for. Then a few months later at the National Day celebration they categorise a group of Chinese associations as communist extremists.

Though not an active member of Keadilan and holding no positions, I call on all non-Malays to vote for the blue flag. It is now more than ever an opportunity for a Malaysia for all Malaysians. Not a fundamentalist Malaysia or a corrupt secular Malaysia but a Malaysia governed by professionals who respect the constitution, rule of law and the separation of powers.

I have looked at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat manifesto and it calls for these very things. The party leaders, Dr Syed Husin Ali and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail are people who have sacrificed much in their careers and in their personal family life. Most Malaysians know that Anwar Ibrahim's only fault was to stand up against cronyism and corruption thus angering his boss.

I remember well that when Anwar was deputy prime minister, he called for more low-cost housing, saying that the poor are poor regardless of race. At that time, I thought, this is a fair man and Barisan Nasional will have my vote. That was nine years ago and this man is now an opposition.

But I believe that his ideals and values are still very much for all Malaysians!