I have only recently picked up news of malaysiakini here in the UK and am surprised at the range of debate about what Mahathir has done or should have done. The guy is a goner. Poof. Finished.

He has resigned so everybody should let him be. Hero-worshipping someone is the surest way to make a head grow bigger.

What Sim Kwang Yang says is absolutely true. Malaysians tend to hero-worship politicians, and unsuspecting common people are often goaded into this by manipulative government officials or those in the district offices.

In the West, they tend to adore not the politician but pop idols, models, and even saucy stars from the movie world, even if these creatures are not the best role models.

As for the views of LCH on being a second class citizen and living elsewhere, it is better to be treated as second class citizen in your own country, where you know your way out, than to be treated such in another country where you can be spat at anytime. Times are changing. Well-to-do countries are not as wonderful as you think.

Racism exists everyway; even in the US. Or perhaps you have read about racism in Britain or Singapore with funny attitude of feeling better than Malaysians (whether you are Chinese, Malay or Indian). Our only weapon against racism if not to fall into the trap of hating others. Hatred begets violence.

Hopefully Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will lead us towards more harmonious economic, political and social environment...and towards an egalitarian society.