Readers of malaysiakini get the other side of the story. We have read accounts of police injustice and brutality, as well as of the ways in which our press manipulates the truth. We have seen blatant examples of racism which the government-controlled media sugarcoats or hides altogether.

I have always assumed that malaysiakini readers are more likely to consider other perspectives. If not necessarily more intelligent, I'd like to think we are better informed than the average resident.

This is why I was shocked and disappointed to see how many of us were ready to join the Indonesian-bashing campaign.

Please, consider the following:

  • It is Malaysia's worst-kept secret that many police officers are violent, corrupt and feared. Anwar Ibrahim was hit while he was in the world's spotlight. Do we really expect the police to exercise self-control when it comes to a population no one cares about or protects?

  • The media will lie to create a scapegoat. Never will they suggest that police methods were suspect. Do we know whether the police personnel were really on a drug raid? What a convenient reason to show up. It immediately reminds us that Indonesians are a 'dangerous, drug-ridden lot' who are not to be trusted by 'peace-loving Malaysians'.

  • When a crime, nearly any crime, is committed, the pattern seems to be: look for Indonesians first, Bangladeshis second, drug addicts third and evidence last. The hard truth is that most Malaysians are beaten, raped or killed by other Malaysians, often within their own ethnic group. Foreign workers have fallen victim to Malaysian violence much more frequently than the other way around. And when it is the other way around, Malaysians have the support of the police and the public. Foreign workers have nothing.

  • The government loves any scapegoat that will take public attention away from them. Foreign workers, legal or illegal, are at the bottom of Malaysia's food chain and the most easily despised.

  • We parrot the government that foreign workers must be grateful for all we have done for them. Do we forget that we feel ill when this same government demands gratitude from the people, ignoring the fact that their 'benevolence' is far less than what we would expect of a democratically-elected unit? Only people from such desperately poor countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Bangladesh would put up with much of what we put them through.

    • As a teacher, my own personal experience with Indonesians is limited to guests of our country: students who help our economy (Ms Fernandez already pointed out that workers have kept us more comfortable than we, apparently, deserve) and bring friendship to their Malaysian classmates.

    I'm horrified to think how they must feel by media assumptions that go with the word 'Indon'.

    Racism is one of the ugliest factors in society. It is born of fear and ignorance. I expected more from the readers of malaysiakini . Thank you, Irene Fernandez, for your lesson in compassion ( Immigrants are people too

    , Jan 21).