Amera is right in pointing out that the non- bumiputras are pouring our their discontent on malaysiakini , which is one of the freer media for public discussion.

However, I take issue with her assertion that the non- bumiputras are a disorganised voting block. Who returned the BN to power in the last election? It was the non- bumiputra vote who proved the tipping point in securing victory for BN.

Does that mean that the non- bumiputras are happy with the BN's performance - certainly not!

But what other effective political options do they have? Voting DAP is a wasted vote because it could never realistically take the reigns of government. Vote PAS? As though the non- bumiputras are not discriminated enough on the basis of race, they want to be further discriminated on the basis of religion?

If under BN, there is no allocation of land or money for building temples and churches, even though on the flip side, their tax monies are used to build mosques and Islamic religious schools. Why should they believe that PAS will use their taxes to build religious facilities for non-Muslims?

Yes the non- bumiputras have become apathetic because they have been politically disenfranchised systematically beginning in 1969. Many have voted with their feet since then. Power to them!

To those who have stayed on despite the odds, or simply because they cannot leave, the dream of the late visionary Onn Jaafar remains - to have a United Malaysian National Organisation. He foresaw Malaysia's present-day problems even in the late 1940's, and presented a "thinking-outside-the-box" solution.

He left Umno in the early 1950's because its leadership then could not accept his vision for a party that would unite all races under one banner. All this talk about Bangsa Malaysia is hangat-hangat tahi ayam without a United Malaysian National Organisation.

So my question to Amera and other bumiputras reading this is: When will you and your leaders see your non- bumiputra counterparts as partners in building up a better Malaysia (and not as your competitors)?