I refer to Dr Loo Voon San's letter over his anger and frustration about racism in this country. I would like to share a similar experience I have had a few years ago.

I was an officer with the Royal Malaysian Navy (have retired now) based in Ministry of Defence in Kuala Lumpur. One day due to a misunderstanding with a Malay army officer, he verbally and physically abused me in the presence of a few non-uniform staff.

He called me a communist and that I should return to China. I was very furious but calm and did not put up a fight. Instead, I reported the incident to my superior and pressed charges against him for assault and defamation.

Knowing that it was a serious offence, he got a very high rank officer to plead with me to drop the charges on compassionate grounds. I agreed on condition that he was posted out to another establishment.

In my 15 years of service with the Navy, I have served in various onshore establishments and ships patrolling the Malaysian waters. I am a loyal citizen and have defended my country in peace time but was still branded a Chinese communist by a fellow Armed Forces personnel. How sad.