With reference to the continuing saga of Alfred Ho and Michael Chong, I think it is time now for both parties concerned to practice the idiom, 'bury the hatchet', once and for all.

I honestly can see no point in this issue going any further other than causing more hurt and distrust between the two individuals concerned.

It's time instead for the duo to try and draw some important lessons from this unfortunate incident. I think it's a hard lesson for blind Alfred and his visually-impaired wife to accept the reality that what we expect from society doesn't always happen in the way we want things to happen.

Sometimes situations (as unfair as it may be) may call us to exercise extra patience (and I acknowledge that this is not easy at all) when we are trying to make the non-disabled understand how important certain things are for disabled persons.

As for Michael Chong and the MCA, it is time to be really magnanimous and to forgive and forget especially with regards to a blind man like Ho who, if you think about it, has done our nation proud as a blind singer with several CD albums to his name.

Whatever said and done, we should appreciate the achievements of Ho and other disabled people with similar accomplishments as national treasures in fighting all odds to become role models for all Malaysians in our country.

Surely more than anyone else, a popular and respected figure like Chong - who frequently makes champions the cause of the marginalised - understands better than anyone else the disadvantages and gross unfairness that the disabled still face in our Malaysian society.

So how about it Chong and the MCA?

Instead of shying away from this situation, let's instead take up the challenge to help Ho and others in his plight to achieve their dreams by allowing ourselves to become instruments and catalysts for change.

Let's strive for more opportunities for the disabled through our influence and intervention in order to make a more just society for disabled Malaysians everywhere.