One of the beauties of a free press is that it provides a forum for anyone to express his/her opinions. Whether you are an idiot or a genius, the playing field is level for all users.

Thus, we have a robust letters section in malaysiakini , with both sides (and the middle) usually weighing in on all issues of the day. Even the people who champion the Barisan Nasional side of things have discovered that on this site, they are as welcome to express their views as those who oppose them.

I find the BN supporters fascinating. They range from people who have their heads firmly in the sand (see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, pretend everything is rosy under the BN umbrella) to those whose letters seem to have been churned out by some bureaucratic government department somewhere.

The recent Mustapha Ong's letter Malott meddling in Malaysia's affairs belongs firmly in the latter category. It is full of tired old cliches and weary, twisted logic.

You know it's a "fill-in-the-blanks" letter when you find it replete with phrases such as "dangerous acts", "media usurpers", "destroy our nation's solidarity", "undesirable elements had infiltrated . . ." and on and on in reference to those who criticise or oppose the BN government.

Is it a mere coincidence that the Mahathir Government is spewing out similar phrases in its "a-threat-a-day" style of governance?

In fact, as Ong's letter (which I believe accurately reflects the thinking of the government) demonstrates, the BN seems to be losing touch with reality. They now seem to think they can intimidate foreign persons and countries with their warnings.

Former US ambassador to Malaysia John R Mallott is a favourite target of the BN lovers, as is his country. Ong seems to advocate detaining Malott under the ISA.

(In fact, Ong would probably detain a large part of the Malaysian population, as well as countless foreigners, under the ISA if he had his way!)

One can see why Malott's abiding interest in Malaysia makes the Malaysian government and its sycophants nervous. Having been a high-ranking US government official, he surely retains some influence in American power circles.

Who knows when the US administration might decide that it has contained the terrorist threat enough to no longer turn a blind eye to repressive regimes around the world? What role would people like Mallott play in shaping policy at that time?

I and many other Malaysians, (I'm sure) welcome Malott's interest and "interference" in our affairs. It's only people like him — beyond the reach of the BN's repression apparatus — who can openly say things that we cannot for fear of becoming victims of that apparatus.

Ong also seems to have an eye firmly on the future (his own!) when he refers to Mahathir and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as "sensitive political leaders."

It's too bad the Rolling Stones did not get Ong to make a guest appearance on their upcoming "40 Licks" CD. You can literally hear his drool hitting the ground.