There is no doubt that in today's enlightened world, good people, as Hamdan Ibrahim ( Sydney, Paris should learn from us ) is clearly one of those, living in all parts of the globe abhor racial discrimination and violence of any type, shape or form.

There is also no doubt that an element of bigots, racists and religious fanatics exists in every society be it in Paris, Sydney or Kuala Lumpur.

What is of supreme importance however, is that enlightened governments everywhere must be seen to be unrelenting and uncompromising and fair in not only cracking down all manner of racism and religious fanaticism each time they rear their ugly heads but also bring to bear the full force of the law on the unacceptable racial supremacists and religious fanatics.

As one who has been exposed to life in Paris, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur as a minority group person, I fear Hamdan is wide off the mark in presuming that Paris and Sydney can learn from Kuala Lumpur in the area of race and religious relations. Rather, in all honesty, I humbly submit that it is Kuala Lumpur that has very much to learn from Paris and Sydney in the treatment of race and religious relations.

Assuredly, unlike Kuala Lumpur where it is lawful for race and religion to feature and predominate in every sphere of political, commercial and social life, the situation cannot be more different in Paris and Sydney. In political, commercial or social life, the racial origin and religious background of citizens have no legal relevance or significance whatsoever in

Paris and Sydney.

Racial discrimination of any kind is condemned by all decent and law-abiding Parisians and Sydneysiders.

Whereas the rioting that took place in Paris is much to do with the struggle for a better socio-economic lifestyle in Paris, the rioting that took place in Sydney is all the work of thugs the despised white supremacist ones retaliating against the criminal activities of some of the out-of-control Mediterranean-looking ones causing havoc and disorder within the community.