I am not of Indian origin, but a common citizen of Malaysia who can understand the grievances of Indian Malaysians in their country of birth. Let me put it plainly. I've met many immigrant Indian Malaysians overseas who were always proud of their birthplace.

Ask them who they are and where they came from and they would automatically and with great pride answer, ‘I am an Indian Malaysian’. And again ask, ‘If you are so proud of being an Indian Malaysian, why did you leave Malaysia and migrate here?’

The common answer would be, ‘It's for the future of my children’. Why is this answer so common among them? I believe they are no 'parrots' or idiots, but most sensible for those who have a real sense of the meaning of acceptance in one's country of birth. These are people who have been denied the birthright of their birthplace.

The main reason for Indian Malaysians’ (not forgetting the Chinese Malaysians too) lack of faith in their birthplace is because of the subtle policy of discrimination in Malaysia towards its non- bumiputera citizens. It is a policy that over the years has been widely accepted that no one dares to come forward to really protest against it except to silently surrender.

And now suddenly all has ripened and the Indian Malaysians have finally gathered themselves to step forward to make their silent voice heard. We cannot forever put a lid on something which has been long simmering.

The Malaysian government finally has to face the blunders of their policy decisions on the country’s multi-racial community. Now it has to think of how to harmonise the society without being accused of discriminating one race from the other.

Clear judgment and fair judgement has to be implemented. After all, we are all Malaysians, the proud citizens of beautiful and colorful Malaysia.