I am a Malaysian who have migrated to Australia. I have been following the 'meritocracy' issues and read the letter A pat from the Pope but none from the Catholics at home . All these have spurred me to write to malaysiakini .

Although I am a third generation Malaysian, I feel that I am treated like a second class citizen and deprived of things I deserved as a Malaysian. I am sure many others feel the same too but are too afraid to speak out for fear of repercussions as this is a very sensitive issue.

It all boils down to a blatant racial discrimination against the non-bumiputra by the Barisan Nasional government.

Admissions to public universities have been based on a 'quota' system (to favour the bumiputra majority) for so many years. Now the 'merit' system has been introduced, yet it is still not based on merit.

The BN government has not allowed new churches to be built to cater to the increasing Christian worshipers to practise their religions since the 1980s.

In business and at work — even in the armed forces — non-Malays also feel the discrimination.

I do not deny that there is also racial discrimination in the multicultural society in Australia. But at least, I know my children have an even playing field among the true Australians and other migrants to compete for a place in the public universities.