I refer to the letter Stop labelling me... by Imnitm. Imnitm seems to feel that the call for a boycott of Maybank due its discrimination is an act of 'going on the offense' against bumputeras. He pleads for us to stop labelling him and then in the same breath speaks about hatred for non- bumiputeras and people volunteering to burn shops when there is a riot.

Firstly, let it be clear that it is Maybank's discriminatory policy which is offensive and unacceptable. Malays receive assistance in education, housing, banking (eg, loans), investments (eg, Amanah Saham), government contracts, etc, and yet this still does not seem sufficient to some.

We will never progress as a country if we keep pandering to the Ketuanan Melayu sentiment. It is efficiency, cooperation and skills that will keep us from falling into Third World backwardness rather than discrimination, cronyism and complacency. I think we must be one of the few countries in the world where there is affirmative action for the majority ethnic group instead of for the minority!

Secondly, why is there a constant need to bring up the threat of violence whenever there is a call for equality in this country? Is that the only answer that you can resort to Imnitm? Aren't there more intelligent and sensible arguments rather than just harking back to possible violence?

The more such terms are bandied about, the more likely people like you will be labelled as lazy and unable to compete with the rest of the world. It will only encourage comments like the only response available to people like you is violence since there is nothing else.

I state in no uncertain terms that any talk of violence against a fellow Malaysian in response to calls for equality is offensive, threatening and completely unacceptable.