I find the letter by Mustapha Ong on the Malay special rights very threatening and a bit childish at times.

He says: 'I am glad that discussion on the sensitive issue of Malay rights and privileges has been tolerated by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's new administration'.

What he should have said was: 'Finally we have a leader who encourages open debate without resorting to draconian laws to suppress issues that are true but which power zealots do not wish to hear'.

It is good that malaysiakini is a unbiased, equal opportunity online paper that allows such mindless self-promoting propaganda to be aired in public. Mustapha is trying to outdo even the politicians at their own game.

I have been dying to rebut this man for a long time and have always been waiting for the right opportunity but the need to argue without making personal attacks may prove to be difficult - but I will try.

It may be good for Mustapha to read this letter and stop deluding himself that Malaysia is a wonderland. Oops ... sorry, it is a wonderland - but only to a select few only.

Now, I have three bones to pick with Mustapha Ong's letter.

Firstly, he keeps talking about his diplomatic background without letting people know that he was allegedly sent back by the United States for getting up to some monkey business (apologies if this is a rumour but I am sure Mustapha can clear this up).

Secondly, he says: 'Fortunately, I am from a similar background and social environment. My children and grandchildren, who are theoretically Malays as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, have never demanded the right of being privileged citizens of Malaysia over the Chinese, Indians and the other minority communities'.

Does he not realise his hypocrisy? His inter-marriage gives him the chance to claim 'special privileges' even if he is not doing it.

Thirdly, he claims that his children do not claim special privileges - but in practice that is exactly what is happening.

One of his children through his company has received a contract from the government to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) for government-linked companies (GLCs).

Is this not claiming privileges? That company was also very interested in getting the Defence Ministry contract for key areas in the national service programme even though they did not have any expertise. But apparently, good sense prevailed.

I applaud Mustapha Ong's commitment to justice and fair play but from what I know, this are just pure sound bites or omong omong kosong .

As I see it, nothing much has changed with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi taking over. Cronies are still in the cabinet, police custody death cases are now investigated and then whitewashed compared to before when they were whitewashed straightaway, and we talk about meritocracy but don't practice it.

People like Mustapha Ong are deluding themselves. Come on, be real please.