In reference to the venomous letter , 'Condemning from the sidelines' by Shaukat Ali, I would like to say that Kim Quek and Manjit Bhatia reserve their right to publish critical letters to malaysiakini regarding whatever political issues that they choose.

Each person has the choice to to write critical political commentaries, or to actively participate in politics. Above all, it is not the business of any people to undermine this right, nor criticise the personal choices of other people in this respect.

Personally, I find the letters of Kim Quek and Manjit Bhatia enlightening and refreshing, vis-a-vis the uncritical and frequently pro-government views of the local newspapers. I may be overestimating, but I do think that there are others apart from me, who also appreciate their views, even though they may disagree with them.

It would do well to educate citizen Shaukat Ali to uphold the individual rights of other people to express their views, insofar as they do not infringe the laws of the country. After all, he is doing the same thing, albeit being on the pro-government side, and a rather tasteless attempt at it.