Dear PM and Umno,

The new approach to win back Chinese support for the government is refreshingly a good start. For far too long, the Chinese have been made a pawn in the political power game. We were taken for too many rides already. We were threatened, scolded, ridiculed for way too long, for unbelievable reasons many a time.

Yes, you can conclude that the Chinese community is very, very hurt deep down their hearts by all these unnecessary abuses and we don't want our kids to suffer like us, So many of us worked like a dog (we don't bother to apply for government scholarships knowing how the system works) to send away our kids overseas and ask them not to come back unless there's no choice.

Don't jump the gun with simplistic rhetoric that we are ‘ungrateful’ or ‘unpatriotic’ to nation; just put yourselves in our shoes and you will appreciate our bad feelings.

 

Here is a list of wants (not ‘demands’ as some of you will politicise later) we wish to share with you and hopefully, we can build a new era by treating everyone as fellow countrymen:

 

1. Stop asking us to ‘repent’ or ask for ‘forgiveness’ for being ‘allowed’ to live in Malaysia. If we can't be justified as citizens, then please get back to the British for drafting the mutually agreed constitution deemed unfair to you. Our late grandfathers were party to the agreement, we, the grandsons, should not be now held ransom for what happened before we were born.

We only look forward to the future; the past has too much unhappiness which we don't want to recall especially the May 13 incident. Many Chinese still feel bitter over this ugly incident and the government should not trivialise the sad history of our nation by declaring May 13 a day of ‘national reconciliation’ or allow some stupid politicians to profit from it every now and then (read threats). The wound will not heal until and unless we treat it.

 

2. Treat all Malaysians, including the Orang Asli and the minorities with respect and humanity, as our dear fellow countrymen. Why the need to go to great lengths to divide us according to race, religion, East/West Malaysians, tribe, etc, if unity is our final destination towards becoming a great nation. No one race, tribe or religion should be discriminated against. Of course, we all respect that Islam is the supreme religion of the country.

 

3. Allow meritocracy to flourish to get the best brains to lead our nation to greater heights, never mind his/her gender, race, political belief and all those small details. With such a good policy in place, our best brains overseas will have a reason to come back to serve the country, and there's no more need to send our kids away overseas too. Here we are talking about positions made available to all in every aspect - public offices as well as private ones.

 

4. Close down all organisations that champion only one particular race’s interest; the beginning of dismantling everything that is race-based. Merge all political parties into one multiracial entity if we truly want to see our people as one. Please stop saying BN is doing just that.

If they did then we won't have so many racial problems today. The time has come for us to stop denying the hard facts if we don't want our kids to continue our senseless fight. Our kids should build the country together to compete with the real outside world.

 

5. Sack immediately - not reassign or promote - those ‘buddies’ who love to talk rhetoric racial nonsense or who have enriched themselves. How can these useless people add value to ‘1Malaysia’ and our future? They are a liability to the nation.

 

6. Find a winnable solution to merge all schools into one national school-type where every parent is proud to enroll his/her kid in so that our children can mix well from young. Stop the politicking over education. Our children must be able to stand up to the outside world - don't shame them if they have to go overseas for further studies.

 

7. Embrace other cultures (not religion) as our national culture that we can partake without fear, which makes our country unique to the world.

 

8. Be sincere in our work to reach out to the people; not just have a ‘vote-fishing’ trip. Help whoever who is in need; be color blind. The poor in our society should be given priority in life, not the super rich and powerful or the well-connected. It's time to create a caring society and more empty talk won't help anything. Be fair to all.

 

9. Sack/retire those deadwood in political, public and private offices however obedient they are for they are stumbling blocks to the nation's advancement/competitiveness.

 

10. Lastly, praise and honour those who have genuinely contributed to the good of the country/ society even though they may not look like us or are from a different camp.