I am deeply offended by our Culture, Art and Tourism Minister who recently questioned the loyalty of the Chinese for not flying the national flag.

First of all, I disagree with his idea of patriotism - the flying of the national flag is symbolic and cannot be used to prove a person's sincerity.

If I am a businessman with good connections and a lucrative government contract, I will be more than willing to fly the flag outside every premise and vehicle I own. Will that make me any more patriotic than someone who does not?

Ministers in Malaysia are well-known for making themselves, their immediate families or their cronies super rich. To those who fall into this category, I would advise them to judge themselves o­n whether they have been truly patriotic.

I personally do not fly the flag. I will not want to be seen as a paid participant in a BN-related function unless I had to - like being a student, civil servant or employee of a crony company.

I will gladly do so when the country's political situation is a level playing field and non-bumiputras get equal treatment in education, employment and business opportunities.

Until the present leaders can show the way by being truly democratic and fair, I am not proud to fly the flag.