In the last couple of years, Malaysians have seen the dark clouds of injustice and abuse of power tarnish the beautiful landscape of our country, and now things are getting 'stormy' again, especially with the indiscriminate use of the Internal Security Act.

But as we focus on the injustice wrought by the ISA, little do we realise the more subtle changes taking place that will no doubt rob us Malaysians of more rights...among which is the new guideline being introduced how we are to be named.

I'm rather surprised malaysiakini has not covered this issue and that I had to dredge it out of The Star in the article Names that are no-nos.

I really wonder who gives this bunch of bureaucratic numbskulls the authority to come up with a list of what's desirable and what's not with regard to people's names.

Of course, preventing the use of vulgarities, names reserved for royalty or those that discriminately violate religious and cultural sensitivities and special titles conferred by the government are understandable. But who gives these folks the right to prevent me from naming my child Putih or Puteh, having the name King (some people have that as a surname) or abbreviating my name as MS Krishnan?

What will they do next? Prevent parents from naming their son Kingsley because it has the word 'King' in it? Or what about the name Jesus? It's a common name in Latin America and the Phillipines, and given that Malaysia is such a magnet for expatriates, it won't be too long before we run into trouble like that.

A name is a private affair, and it is entirely the parent's business how they wish to name their child. If the child does so desire, he or she may change their name later at the appropriate age. But to allow this sort of blatant control by the National Registration Department is the first of many more drastic mistakes Malaysians will make, heading towards a nightmare of Orwellian proportions.

Say no to the NRD and remind these bureaucrats that we put them there as public servants to serve us, the public, not to tell us how to live our lives. Let things like these slide and in 10 years time, these same people will be telling us the colour and brand of underwear we should all be wearing!