Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin lamented that "Not many people could read the Umno president's policy speech in the newspapers on November 8 because the media supply chain of vendors and distributors is monopolised by one race". This is yet another example of the perverse mind of a racist attempting to gain political mileage at the expense of an ethnic minority. These same people will later preach about religious tolerance, cordial ethnic relations and national unity.

It is common knowledge that the major newspapers in the country close down four times a year to mark festive holidays - Hari Raya Puasa, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas. The print media was merely following this long tradition by observing the public holiday for Deepavali on Nov 8. It was Umno that chose to hold its annual general assembly during this festive season, showing disrespect to Hindu Malaysians.

Yet, the Indian news vendors are being blamed for lack of publicity of the speech. Newspaper distribution does not require an intensive capital outlay or specialised skill. Anyone can enter the business. All that is required is a bicycle, perhaps now a motorcycle, the willingness to work hard and a commitment to deliver newspapers to households before sunrise even during thunderstorms.

Many Indian Malaysians are in this trade precisely because they do not have the capital, political patronage or a powerful father-in-law to break into bigger businesses. As others shun this line of work, they have tapped this employment opportunity to earn an honest living.

Incidentally, a newspaper group once attempted to break this perceived "monopoly" of Indian vendors and "teach them a lesson" for standing up to its management's bullying tactics. The company bought new motorcycles and recruited some youths to deliver its newspapers. The joke was the youths took possession of the motorcycles and rode away, never to return. Perhaps, they had joined the ranks of Mat Rempits.

The newspaper group's senior managers subsequently learnt a costly lesson that ethnic supremacy posturing does not gel with simple work ethics and business practices, and signed new agreements with the old vendors.