Joe Fernandez is entitled to his opinions in Time to end the bumi/non-bumi divide regarding the Chinese in Malaysia. However, I'd like to correct any ideas he may have given other readers regarding those of us who whine, moan and groan about being second-class citizens.

Us whiners, moaners and groaners are not multimillionaire Chinese, but those in the middle and lower classes. Our so-called wealth usually consists of our family homes, unless we've already sold them to finance our children's education.

Most of us made, or are still making, housing loan repayments every month for 20 or more years. This eats up a large portion of the salaries we go to work every day for. Not jobs where we sit around in some nice country club plotting and scheming, but jobs that we wish we didn't need.

Besides the nine-to-five workers, there are Chinese who are farmers, estate workers, waiters, electricians, bus drivers, construction workers, etc (I mention these jobs because those are the occupation of my relatives). Hardly the cushy life, and definitely not enough to provide for several generations.

By extension, I guess I'm also defending the multimillionaire Chinese from Joe Fernandez's criticisms. Generally, the multimillionaire Chinese never whine, moan and groan about Malaysia. Indeed, they are usually the first to say how wonderful Malaysia has treated its Chinese, usually to their whining, moaning and groaning Chinese friends. They would be the last Chinese to leave Malaysia for some foreign land.

Of course, I too would be really happy and content if I were part of that class. Unfortunately, I and millions of other Chinese Malaysians are not.

So feel free to rail against the thousands of moneyed Chinese who have accumulated wealth. Feel free to condemn those (including me) who whine, moan and groan about being second-class citizens. But please keep it clear in your mind that we are two very different classes: one rich and happy with Malaysian socio-economics, the other working to get by on our own without any family fortunes and, in the last few decades, despite government-decreed limitations.

Us whiners, moaners and groaners are frustrated largely because of the limitations placed upon our opportunities. The rich Chinese have their family fortunes and enterprises, and the joy, comfort and security that come along with it.

The Malays have an official policy which favours them, whether poor or rich (indeed, a major frustration is seeing the government favour Malays who are already rich; it is so much easier to support government help provided to the Malays who are poor). Those Chinese without family fortunes and enterprises, i.e. "men in the street" to use Joe Fernandez's term, wonder what they've done to be treated like second-class citizens in the only country they've ever known.

If there is a caste system (I'm not sure if Joe Fernandez believes it is an official or unofficial system), then we're in its lower levels, along with most Malaysians of all races. Just like most Malays, most Chinese and other non-bumiputra do not have the wealth of the powerful Datuks and Tan Sris.

If anyone is offended by the thousands of wealthy Chinese Malaysians, please focus your grievances on them, and not all Chinese Malaysians.