Having read the various views on the topic of emigration, I do so agree with Dr LF Ng , Helen Ang and Diaspora M in more ways than one:

The 'loss' of loved ones and the suffering of having to part with your children compared to the alternative of seeing them going to seed in an unjust society brought on by divide-and-rule politics - this is all Malaysian emigrants face.

When I chose to leave my country of birth for the first time, just for a visit to another country, I was made to feel welcome and treated as an equal in the new country.

Yet in my own country, where the mere fact that my ethnic origin does not entitle me to be treated fairly by the law, I am constantly made aware that I am a second-class citizen.

The contrast of a truly democratic nation and a pseudo one brought home to me the fact that I had a dilemma - to forge on in this truly hostile country and fight losing battles or to move on to another country that would treat me with respect and grant me some dignity.

On one hand, emigrating meant giving up my family, my friends and all that I hold dear in this country to start alone in unchartered waters with no network, no family or friends.

On the other hand, however, I could live in a true democracy and enjoy freedom - yes, freedom in the true sense of the word.

But at a price - my parents 'lost' me for 25 years. They never truly got to enjoy how devoted I became as I grew older and wiser - only by long distance. My children never truly got to know who their grandparents were. My family is dispersed

Yes, we all pay the price for the foolishness of divide-and-rule politics in Malaysia Would the government ever be courageous enough to own up to the mistake of this well-meaning but misguided way of running of the country? We can only pray and hope.