Regarding the letter Pray tell me, my place in this country , I find that it's carefully worded so as not to cause offence to ultra nationalists who would perhaps take the writer's questioning as something unpatriotic.

However, I find it touching and appropriate that someone like him should be asking such questions.

While life is lived in the 'now', the past shapes our present and perhaps informs us of future choices. Such is the journey we are on.

Mei County's history is very much a thread of the very rich tapestry of Malaysia and should not be excluded. I would encourage the writer to travel to Mei County if he hasn't done so already and learn it's history.

Like any building, we are works in progress. Without the strong foundation of where we came from, there will always be questions as to where we are going.