I am writing in response to the letter Malay language for 'Malayland' by Abdul Hadi Ali.

While a good letter contains supporting arguments as well as rebuttals, I cannot help but to start off by arguing against some of the baffling points raised by the writer. Why did the writer think of Israel and Singapore as the only two countries where natives lost out on their language?

What about the USA and Australia? But that is not my point at all as citizens of the USA, Australia, Israel and Singapore are still able to learn their mother tongue. It is not the Malaysian government that is particularly tolerant with respect to this issue, it is the governments of countries that forbid or discourage the learning of languages other than the "official language" that are oppressive and narrow-minded.

In fact, the gist of Lee Ban Chen's article only reiterates clause (1) of article 152 of the Malaysian Constitution and based on the current situation this article is still being observed.

I would also like to remind the writer that only the states of Peninsular Malaysia constitute Tanah Melayu whereas Sabah and Sarawak do not. His description of Malaysia as 'Malayland' is simply untrue as not all the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are, as defined by clause (2) of article 160 of the Constitution, Malay.

Further into the case of Singapore, the writer should realise that while ethnic Chinese dominate politics, the dominant language is English, a language which belongs to everyone in today's world. Furthermore, anyone in Singapore can learn how to speak Malay, or for that matter, any language. Whereas Singapore has the name of its country in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil on its notes and coins, non-Malays in Malaysia did not make the slightest fuss when our notes started to feature Malay words in the Jawi form in addition to the usual rumi form.

Yet again I have digressed. My point is that ethnic Chinese and Indians have not shunned the Malay language or demanded that their mother tongue be accorded any 'special status' in Malaysia, they just wish that vernacular schools continue to exist. They are not forcing anybody to enrol in vernacular schools parents are free to enrol their children in any primary school, whether national or national-type.

In Malaysia, race and language are not the main divide, class is. Put Malaysians of different races of a similar social class together and they click, more so if they speak English/Manglish in addition to Malay. Try getting someone from the upper echelons to mingle with someone from the lower strata and they find it awkward whether they are from the same race or not.

To bridge this class divide, we need poverty eradication coupled with equitable distribution of wealth and also equal opportunities in employment and education, which means offering assistance and opportunities based on need and merit, not race or political connections.

That way the poor regardless of race will be helped, talents regardless of race will gain recognition and Bumiputera achievements will never again simply be shrugged off as 'special' assistance.