"Each time if I have university matters to deal with when I went home, my Malay friends and I who also live on the plantation would have to go to the nearest housing area at Taman Kelisa Ria, about 5km from here. That was where we could get internet access."

- V Barathidasa

COMMENT | Of late, social media has been awash with news stories of how some people live in this country. Whether it was the story of the student who had to take her exam on top of a tree or residents of a plantation with their improvised modem, the main theme running through all these stories is how the political system has failed them.

Also in the news are the ongoing corruption cases of political personalities and how they solicited bribes amounting to millions, paid bloggers to spruce up their reputations. And generally, how they allegedly used taxpayers' money to live lifestyles that are disgusting when you think of how the B40 group and others have to live in this country.

Corruption is one thing, but I have always said that religious extremism is the existential threat of this country. Here is the thing, though. Corruption and religious extremism are not mutually exclusive in this country.

During the movement control order, I wrote about a friend of mine who was so incensed that the government could steal so much money, but could not provide – at that time - free masks. He had said: "People are more interested in praying...