I have not frequented malaysiakini ever since the raid because I thought it was going to roll over and die. I am pleasantly surprised. It is now more feisty than ever!

If I may give my two-sen worth.

I was once a patriot. I believed in this land. Until the Unit Pusat Universiti ruined it. I am a second-class citizen despite the fact that I am a third-generation Malaysian. It all began ever since my 'average' SPM results were not good enough to enter local universities. The STPM was the only route for a poor family like mine.

But the STPM was clearly designed to fail us. Tell me, in a human life what is most precious of all? Surely it's time, but time is also our youth. The STPM wasted so much of our youth. And its curriculum is so objectionable that it is still unacceptable in many foreign universities. What was wrong in keeping to the post-British Empire standards of the 'O' and 'A' levels?

Perhaps all these locally-designed examinations were to facilitate 'results cooking' by the powers-that-be?

I 'fought' the system in my own way. I dropped out of Upper Six and continued my education part-time through to a diploma, an advanced diploma and finally obtained an Australian degree. All with my bare hands and brains. Got myself a full-time job half-way and have been climbing up the salary-ladder with average 30% annual salary increment ever since. The great capitalism notion of 'vote with your feet'.

I was no A-star student. I just do not know when to give up. Fight on even without talent and you will get somewhere.

I would also like to present a challenge to YMM's Not giving up hope on Malaysia . Wake up and smell the flowers (or dung). Such a naive little poem without facts. Blind faith? If you were to 'fight' as your poem says, then prepare for ISA detention - renewable every two years without court order indefinitely. Let's see if you could care to fight anymore when released at the tender age of 66.

There was a glimpse of fresh air when we had a new leader two years ago. Supposedly 'clean'. All hopes seem lost now. He is alone in his crusade, and through action of inaction, seems indecisive.

We who are left did not run away. In the end, one's legacy is to one's children. They whom we have brought into this world with a partner in life. I want them to live better. Let one's labour bear equivalent fruit. The rest of the more livable developed world welcomes hard work and talent - not ancestral lines.

Crutches hurt the users the most - not those who have left.