It is indeed distressing that the present government is using ISA against Hindraf leaders who voiced their discontent towards the government.

Dissent is part of the democratic process. If government leaders cannot take the heat, they may choose other more suitable jobs. Taking the heat means talking to your adversaries to see what can be done to address the problem. If tens of thousands could take to the streets, surely they have legitimate grievances that the leaders should listen to. They are not school children.

It is well-known that Indian Malaysians are not given the opportunities available to Malay Malaysians. There are fewer scholarships for them to advance to foreign and local universities. Business licenses for Indians in certain businesses are certainly out. The poor Indian Malaysians do not enjoy the NEP that favours the Malays in education and businesses.

The system in Malaysia is still in favour of the Malays. It is known to everyone even those in government. Of course, there are a few rich Indians in Malaysia but there are many more poor Indians living in estates. Certainly there are poor Malays too and that is why we need a system based on income rather than race.

These problems and discontent are due to decades of government policies favouring the Malays. Poor Indians are not enjoying the same benefits that the Malays presently enjoy. It is true that the Indians are not intentionally marginalised by the government but are merely left on their own. The Malays, however, are given opportunities that the Indians and Chinese do not have. It is indeed very sad. The Chinese are enterprising and although they are left on their own, they work hard to survive.

While the Chinese and Indians want to be considered equals, we have the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ concept promoted by the Umno elites. They advance this concept to retain their power base and to continue being elected as Umno leaders. The Chinese and Indians will never be looked upon as equals by many Umno members in Malaysia. Malaysia will forever be divided unless this preferential system and the related ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ concept are removed.

It is highly unlikely that Umno will lose power in Malaysia due to an ingrained system. And for that reason, it is up to the courageous Umno leaders to advance the concept of equality. However they know they cannot do this. If they abolish the preferential system, they will not become leaders of Umno. This is what happened to Onn Jaafar. Malaysia will forever be divided and this is why I cry for Malaysia.

Umno leaders want the Chinese and Indians to accept this preferential system. Let’s turn it around and ask Umno members if the Malays will accept if preferential treatment is given to the Chinese and Indians instead? Surely not. The Chinese and Indians must accept this without questioning.

Dissent is not tolerated. ISA will be used against those who oppose the government. Malaysia can never progress like the advanced economies. How can Malaysia develop Noble Prize winners in chemistry, physics, medicine and literature when our government says that we cannot question this and that? If you question, security guards will take away your computers and the police may even detain you.

Look at our public universities. The rankings says it all. It is so suffocating. We do not allow our undergraduates to freely express themselves when the aim of education is to develop thinking minds for progress in the arts, sciences and business. Given the threat of ISA, how will someone with legitimate grievances dare to question anything? How can Malaysia progress to the level of the advanced economies?

We have a long way to go unless we have Malay leaders in Umno who are courageous enough to say that all Malaysians are equal regardless of race. This is still a dream for many years to come. It is still a dream for the Umno leaders to realise that the opposition love the country too.

Certain opposition leaders like Lim Kit Siang deserve Tan Sri titles but they will never be bestowed with such royal honorifics. The opposition wants policies that will guarantee the long-term survival, stability and progress of our nation such as anti-corruption, a Malaysian Malaysia and a system based on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights where all Malaysians are indeed equal.