In your report Another blow for Gomez, wife's leave rejected , parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang is quoted as having said: 'The latest Universiti Malaya administrative action smacks of being petty and vindictive, reckless of the interests of the university and Malaysia's international reputation and global competitiveness'.

I cannot agree with Lim's assumption that '... the interests of the university and Malaysia's international reputation and global competitiveness' are indeed the guiding principles for decision-making at UM. They are not.

Gomez's appointment to a top UN posting has brought about, instead of a celebration, a wake. Less than a year ago it was UM academic KS Jomo who was to resign to take up a position at the UN headquarters. And now it is Gomez.

I am not at all surprised or shocked. Everything that is happening to Gomez and his wife is in keeping with the perspective which I have always believed actively guided the policies and actions of Malaysian academia - racism.

Viewed in this perspective, you will see that Gomez should have expected the response from UM, taken it and not made an issue of it.

Everyone of us in Malaysia has contributed, whether by our own actions or by our silence, to what is happening to Gomez. And when it happens to us and we are the victims, we should just take it and move on.

I do not believe anyone is ready for what really needs to be done. We are all not prepared to stick our necks out.

Sadly, in attempting to define UM's purpose, even the opposition chief Lim finds himself trying so hard to be politically correct when he talks about '... the interests of the university and Malaysia's international reputation and global competitiveness'.

Isn't it about time he says something that needs to be said without trying so hard to be politically correct?