In the aftermath of the Petrof letter affair, the real victim is the country. When the police raided malaysiakini's office and confiscated the servers and computers it damaged the country's image, judging from the foreign reports.

At a time when Malaysia needs friends to improve trade, tourism and investments, it can't afford to be wrongly seen as another 'Third-World police state'. We all need to enhance the country's image and not give cause for the world's media to disparage it.

Petrof's letter, though somewhat hyperbolic, was fair comment. More than some people realise, malaysiakini's existence is a tremendous public relations exercise in Malaysia's favour.

It shows the world Malaysia is not afraid of criticisms and honours its guarantee of non-censorship o­n the Internet evidenced by malaysiakini's presence.

That malaysiakini has become the proverbial meat in the sandwich and scapegoat has been seen by many as unfortunate and unfair.

As every intelligent person who has read the o­nline newspaper knows, despite its shortcomings and handicap the struggling o­nline does provide a valid service in providing a range of views and news o­n Malaysia.

Had Umno-Youth rebutted Petrof and articulated its case in malaysiakini (since that was where the letter was published) the world would have seen Malaysian democracy in action.

Sadly the opportunity was lost and reports of strong-arm police action is the last thing Malaysia needs, especially after the Anwar Ibrahim 'black eye' fiasco.

As o­ne who lives in the company of non-Malaysians, there are limits to which o­ne could try to protect the country's image with explanations that are hard to justify in the light of the latest police action.

Malaysia deserves better and I hope like many others, that justice, if not common sense, will prevail and the molehill will not become a mountain of distractions.

If the country is bogged down in petty squabbles, how will it attract more trade, tourists and investments into the country? That US direct investment in the country has halved partly because of American misperceptions of the country should make Malaysians more careful and work

harder at dispelling the myths.

Malaysians should work together to make the economic cake bigger so that even the poor, regardless of race and religion, will have a larger share than they presently enjoy.

There are many caring and fair-minded Malaysians who are willing to help others whatever their race or religion. It is a mistake to think o­nly those who are of the same race or religion will help each other.