The following are some of the comments from readers on the 'ultimatum' which was issued by Umno Youth against MP Loh Seng Kok (MCA-Kelana Jaya) for his speech in Parliament on religion and politics.

SoundMan: The actions of the Umno Youth Kelana Jaya division to take umbrage on democratic free speech in this fair land of Malaysia is most troubling. Issues brought up by MP Loh Seng Kok were words of our concern and spoken in the august house of Parliament no less.

I certainly hope that the issues brought up by MP Loh would reach beyond the angry Umno Youth and get to ears at cabinet level. We of the non-Muslim faith in this multi-racial, multi-ethnic nation need the protection enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

I expect the BN political parties to bring to the notice of the national leadership our just concerns without the fear of bully boys from any quarter.

CK: Loh is merely pointing out to the obvious. Umno Youth claims that his statement has hurt the Malays. How do they know that? Did they conduct a poll to find out? By their vigilante-like action they are instigating hatred and disharmony.

I find Umno Youth to be the great perpetrator of race-based politics. If there is any danger of disharmony - it would most probably be caused by these goons. It's time the Umno seniors clipped their wings.

Imagine, if things don't change, one of these goons would be the future prime minister of this country. I fear for my children.

Dear Abdul Halim Samad and fellow goons, a religious development department would not undermine the position of Islam as the official religion. By the way, what sort of action are you planning to take. Lynch him?

Get your house in order before you go around blaming others. If you don't change, I truly believe that you would become our nation's greatest enemy.

LC Teh: If other Malaysians are not free to voice out their unhappiness over allegedly biased interpretations of history or unfair and unnecessary curbs on the practice of their religions, then we as a nation will have to be prepared for future chaos.

Until and unless we are allowed to discuss such things openly and listen to one another's problems and fears without threats to shut them up, we will be going backwards as a nation. Forget the religious and racial harmony we brag about to the whole world if we are just interested to sweep such problems under the carpet.

If religious freedom is not upheld and seen to be upheld, and others are not free to promote religion, moral decay will increasingly be difficult to arrest in the long run. Eventually this affects everyone.

To our leaders, our questions are: Are we developing this nation but losing our soul in the process? Do you want to discuss and solve this problem openly or condemn the people who speak up now and face disaster in the future?

Shufiyan Shukur: Loh Seng Kok wasn't really far off in his speech when he complained about 'imbalanced' history textbooks, prayer recital guidelines and the difficulty of non-Muslims with regards to places of worship.

My fellow brethren strut around thinking that we shaped this nation. Well, let me tell it to you guys, others have shed blood for this nation, and if it were only possible to put the blood from all the races into barrels, classified by race, I wager that non-Malay blood would probably fill up more barrels. And if you could do it for sweat, the result would be the same.

Without the sacrifices and hard work of all Malaysians, this country would be hmm maybe like Papua New Guinea. Anyway, without the Chinese and Indians who influenced the culture of this peninsular, we Malays would still be strutting around half-naked. They civilised us, before Islam did.

So my brethren, cut some slack. Recognise and acknowledge the contributions of others who helped give us so much. (I won't touch on the issues of prayer guidelines and worship that Loh brought up as well, lest my brothers in Islam label me murtad [apostate] which would be most scary.)

Re Tired: I think it is time for coalition partners in BN like MCA, MIC and Gerakan, to stand up on certain issues and not always remain dumb to avoid accusations of not toeing party lines.

Like the earlier incident of the memorandum by certain ministers to the prime minister, of which I support, but regrettably as usual, party discipline got the better of them.

We seem to be under the illusion of unity when in fact, there are countless incidences of inequality and unfairness which the public are resigned to accept as part and parcel of life in Malaysia.

For non-Malays and non-Muslims, we are getting used to being talked down by the ruling party, Umno, and we have given up hope of expecting MCA, MIC or Gerakan to sacrifice their positions in the cabinet to speak their minds, not necessarily on racial matters but general issues.

To the members of the public who are non-partisan and non-Malay, non-Umno coalition leaders do not command the respect which they expect, simply because of the lack of voice in their being so-called champions of their race. In fact, it would even be better if we go for a multi-racial BN instead which would solve most of our problems in one stroke. But then again, would Umno be willing to sacrifice their supreme power?

What good is it when one moment our PM said the BN MPs can speak on any issue and then this ultimatum? Earlier, there was the ISA threat by Nazri to non-Muslim NGOs.

We can forget about national integration and unity if we continue to be compartmentalised into specific race and religion and comments are disallowed.

To give an idea of how some people perceive the other BN coalition partners: I was once asked jokingly why I was wearing a KDU T-shirt and I replied because it was given to me. Knowing I am an opposition supporter, he challenged me if I am willing to don an MCA T-shirt! To be honest, I would be most reluctant to be associated with a party perceived to be for personal gains. Similarly, I believe there are many Malay intellectuals who would not put on an Umno T-shirt.

Angered Citizen: I believe what Loh have said is correct and it will reflect the sentiments of many non-bumiputeras/non-muslim citizens who have toiled and sweated blood to contribute to this nation. This have gone too long and too far and the fact that Umno have bullied the interest of non-bumiputeras into accepting their cultures, their interest. I have long regretted my voting action to see my count for the nation's blessing to have gone to waste.

I stand for whatever Loh have fought to redeem back the rights, the contributions of every non-bumiputeras citizens and it is only right to have the balance of everything that the nation have stood for.

Now that Malaysians have someone that could express their sentiments and all Umno does is to shut them up. This is really uncalled for. So, I as a citizen would like to express my disappointment and anger over what every BN member has said against Loh's statement.

Sufi: The characteristic of Umno being arrogant and racial is proven once again in this event. If Parliament is not the avenue to voice that which concern the rakyat's well-being as a MP; then may I ask where is the proper channel. Malaysia has become an enemy of herself in this denial mode and is afraid of her own shadow.

On a wider scope, this unfolding event will be the laughing stock for the international community. The spark has been ignited and the trees are burning till the whole forest will be affected. However historical facts can be traced by the experts to confirm whether what the MP said is true or otherwise. Maybe we need another truth-searching commission to verify?

CH Low: Umno has a very significant group of intolerant and selfish supporters and leaders. It is this group that has set the agenda for many issues with the excuse that their intolerant methods have met with success for themselves in the past.

While on balance, most bumiputeras and Muslims are tolerant, they do not set the agenda and likely their views are drowned in a sea of political opportunism that has so much at stake for the winners today.

Anonymous: It's not news that Umno Youth will resort to gangsterism to advance their narrow interests. It has also been proven time and again that criminal conducts including physical violence carried out by these gangsters will not be punished.

No surprise also that these people are the one that are loudest in their opposition to formation of an IPCMC for some consider the Royal Malaysian Police to belong to them.

Jakers Lambert: The arrogance of Umno, in particular Umno Youth knows no bounds. Let us not forget the dagger waving incident and battle cries of racial bigotry in a general assembly. Almost every single non-Malay Malaysian I know was dumbfounded at such insolence and arrogance.

To shut MP Loh Seng Kok out is to live in denial and if one should decide to live in denial, do it alone, do not drag everyone down with you. As an old fart, I make this plea to the Parliament that if a nation is judged in man-years; at 49 years old, we should be mature enough to discuss these issues in an open and matured manner.

There is no need to resort mob mentality, 'read and respond' ultimatum. MP Loh Seng Kok do not owe Umno Youth an explanation.

To lend support to the honourable MP's speech, the contribution of non-Malays cannot be discounted in one form or another. Inhospitable tin mines of the Kinta Valley, humid rubber plantations along the west coast. Labourers that toil in the scorching equatorial sun for the Malayan railroad, stonemasons that build most of ubiquitous shophouses that make up the towns on the west coast even today. An efficient civil service for a developing nation and an education system with standards that rivals that of England then.

These are just quite a few contributions of non-Malays, as the new nation emerges from Independence. Which was to be expected as migrant population do not have the benefit of land ownership and an agrarian lifestyle and with no recourse will quite readily flock to these activities.

The success of a country is measured by the economy, industry, the social infrastructure, the standards of living and common sense of decency and transparency within its public officials and population. Little do we all realise, these standards are quickly eroding ever since the implementation of the NEP and will continue to accelerate exponentially as subsequent generations of bumiputeras come into fold with the ingrained mindset that the privileges are a right and everyone owes them a good life (not just a living).

The NEP, racial bigotry and preferential treatment has spawned will continue to spawn an entire section of the population that are uncompetitive, arrogant and most likely incapable of any form of hardship.

Blessed with arable land, minerals, ample sunlight, fresh water, surrounded by the sea and located within the cross-roads of the shipping lanes together with a hardworking population. This new nation then was destined for greatness, today, we struggle to stay on par with India and China, nations which until the late 70s were still ravaged with famine.

Umran: I am really sick and tired of politicians using the phrase "too sensitive" to stifle discussion.

Who decides if something is "too sensitive"? Who decides if a subject is "too sensitive" for one community or the other? Or is that the default phrase to use when a question is just too tough to answer?

Loh Seng Kok's idea is "too sensitive"? Because Umno Youth says so, that's why. Let's forget that Umno Youth does not represent all Malays.

What's next? Will it be "too sensitive" to discuss why the power windows on most Proton cars don't work? Perhaps it will soon be "too sensitive" to discuss the price hike in petrol? National interest and our economy at stake you know.

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