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I was appalled when I read de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim's claim that the use of the word ' keling ' is a non-issue. I certainly did not expect such an obnoxious statement from Rais, whom I have always looked up as a level-headed, down-to-earth and fair civil servant.

Living in a multiracial country, we were all taught, from young, to learn and respect one another's culture, beliefs and traditions. We are also nurtured to avoid using words and gestures that might be offensive to another race, religion or culture.

While I must admit that some quarters are stretching the issue beyond what is necessary, the issue is nevertheless a point of contention for the Indian community.

The word ' keling ' has always had a negative connotation when uttered as point of reference to Indians. When someone refers to me as a ' keling ', I am offended due to the derogatory nature of the utterance.

For the sake of argument, there was a furore over a book entitled ' Shit ', and the book was banned. As living creatures, this is merely answering to the call of nature, as such why such sensitivity?

We, Asians are full of sensitivities and there some things that cannot be said and done in public, and they need not necessarily be vulgar or obscene

Similarly, without debating on how and when the word ' keling ' originated, as an Indian, I feel that the government should discourage the use of the term to refer to Indians.

The government who is promoting interracial unity, should start leading by example. It has nothing to lose by doing so, and everything to gain in terms of praise from the Indian community in Malaysia. Besides, what is so difficult in calling an Indian, 'Indian'?

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