I refer to the letter Gov't, society to blame for labour crisis .

The writer accuses those who are concerned with national security of being 'racist'. This loose and unthinking sloganeering is immature and wrong.

True, we must not be xenophobic and we must treat even foreign workers - once they are here - with decency, respect, mercy and compassion. Torture, maltreatment and exploitation of foreign workers must not be condoned.

However, while we should strive to do good to everyone in this world, we also have to first protect the legitimate interests of our citizens, taxpayers and workers. Charity must begin at home.

For example, we have to prevent communicable diseases prevalent in poorer and conflict-ridden regions of the world from spreading to Malaysia through a massive influx of foreign workers.

We must also ensure that foreign workers from politically troubled zones do not bring into Malaysia dangerous ideas - such religious fanaticism - which turn our country into a proxy battleground for their political disputes, conflicts and wars which have nothing to do with us.

These are real and practical concerns for real people in Malaysia.

Moreover, the other writers who were criticised in the above letter did not reject the need for foreign workers. What they argued was that we should source for foreign workers from countries other than Pakistan which is known for its religion-based political and social strife.

What the writer perhaps cannot explain is why rejecting Pakistanis is condemned as 'racism' but not the non-hiring of Sri Lankans or other nationalities?