I refer to the letter Fantasy-ventilating and ignoring facts where the writer states: 'Right. So are most Malays, I understand, who can trace back their origins to the Bugis, Minangkabau, and other peoples from Java and Sumatra. Just like the national language. Correct me if I am wrong but the original people of Malaysia, as far as memory goes, are the Orang Asli and aboriginal tribes of Sabah and Sarawak.'

He said this in reply to the writer of the letter Chinese M'sians must accept their lot who made the racist statement: 'Not to forget, Chinese are only immigrants'.

The good Malaysian-minded person who passionately replied to the above racist statement reflects a large number of non-Malay Malaysians disillusioned with the unfairness of extremist Malays in positions of power who are bullying (and some say oppressing and marginalising) them.

However, his reply that Malays are immigrants from foreign lands such as Indonesia who robbed the country from its original inhabitants (the Orang Asli) is a fallacy which was invented by British colonialists, and later amplified by Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and company.

The Malays are the Orang Asli - just that they are the Orang Asli of the lowlands (downriver) while those categorised as Orang Asli now are those who live in the highlands (upriver). The Malays are descended from the Temuan aborigines of Selangor and Melaka and Bahasa Melayu (Bahasa Malaysia, I insist!) is the Temuan language 'upgraded' with English, Sanskrit and Arabic.

The Malays of Selangor, Perak, Malacca, Johor, Pahang and Terengganu are from the Temuans. The Temuans also settled in the island of Sumatra. Those in Johor, Pahang and Terengganu are also mixed with the Orang Laut, Orang Jakun and Orang Kanak.

Those in Kelantan are Mons or Champa peoples just like the Senois. Those in Kedah, Perlis and Penang are the aborigines of Kedah, the Orang Kanak, who gave rise to the Bataks of Sumatra island, and they originate from the Ibans. Those in Negeri Sembilan are from the Jakun, the ancestors of the Minangkabaus of Sumatra island.

It is true some Malays are of Javanese and Bugis ancestry, from the islands of Java and Sulawesi respectively. But they married the Temuans and absorbed Temuan blood. The Javanese are actually descended from the aboriginal Melanaus of Sarawak and the Bugis are from the Bidayuh of Sarawak.

The Muslim peoples of Borneo are mainly Melanaus and Kedayans (alias Bruneian Malays) in Sarawak and Muslim Kadazans, Bajaus and Kedayans in Sabah.

It is good to challenge racist politicians who bully and even oppress and marginalise the Chinese or Indians, but one should refrain from using neo-colonial myths to attack the Malays. If the writer is angry at racist Umno or PAS politicians, he should tell them that they, as the indigenous peoples of the land, should stop insulting their grandfathers' generosity.

The ancient rajas and sultans of Johor (and later Melaka) had great ties with the emperors of China and were the emperors' vassals. They treated Chinese in this land with kindness and fairness at all times. Likewise with Indian and Arab merchants and settlers.

The Malays and the natives of Borneo are the eldest brothers in the Malaysian family. They should treat the Chinese and Indians whom they adopted with humanity and loving kindness at all times.