The removal of the word 'Keling' from Kamus Dewan ( The Star , Nov 21) is, in my opinion, not the right method in educating the public the word is derogatory particularly to a certain section of our society. It smacked of overzealousness in the authorities' desire, perhaps, to be seen to be more politically correct.

The offending word exists (or became adopted) in the Malay language and there is nothing one can do about it. It was even possibly acceptable to use it, in the past, to refer to people of South Indian heritage. However politically incorrect it may seem now, we cannot judge its appropriateness using today's standard.

Just like the word 'negro'. According the the Oxford dictionary online, it means 'a person with black or Afircan origin'. It was further explained, however, that although the word remained a standard designation from the 17th to the 19th centuries, it has recently fallen out of favour and is regarded as offensive.

Perhaps Kamus Dewan can conduct some research into the origin and historical usage of the word 'keling', and put things into perspective. Let's not just drop the word and pretend that it did not and does not exist.