Some of the comments people make in Malaysia, never fail to amaze me.

I have been reading through several newspapers and online message boards and I find numerous people commenting on the Olympics and Malaysia's 'poor' performance.

What amazes me is the total lack of respect for the simple fact that these men and women made it to the Olympics in the first place; that they had competed with some of the world's best athletes and that they did, in fact, give it their absolute best.

However, I would assume (perhaps, I am wrong) that these same people who are complaining might also be the people who believe Malaysians should show their patriotism by hanging flags on their homes, cars, motorbikes and whatever else and that if people do not, then they are being unpatriotic to Malaysia.

In my view, patriotism is the respect you have for living in a country and being proud for what that country stands for. Yet, people seem too preoccupied by superficial signs.

For instance, you always hear how Malaysians should be proud to have one of the world's tallest building. This is really not such a monumental achievement. Remember it was designed and built by a non-Malaysian and that many countries around the world have tall buildings.

You hear about the national car manufacturer, Proton. Yet the company manages to produce sub-standard automobiles. Many countries have their own auto industries.

You hear about harmony and multi-culturalism, when in reality we have only a slight handful of ethnic communities compared to most Western countries and a few other Asian countries who have a far more diverse ethnic makeup - and far better more cohesion.

You hear about the KLIA, Penang Bridge, the Light Rail Transit, Times Square (which was not even fully-occupied when it opened) and the Mid-Valley Mega Mall.

My point is that you always read about how some people or the politicians say that we should be proud because we have this or that, yet any mention of the real matters to be proud about is never heard.

True democracy, true religious freedom, true health care coverage for all, rights to true education (even if a birth certificate is not around), fairness in employment, racial equality, a non-corrupt police force, fairness in housing allocation, in business loans, safe streets, openness in public policy and public awareness (such as in pollution, the environment) are all non-existent.

Any country in the world can build, skyscrapers, bridges, auto plants, mega malls. Many, in fact, have done so and do not consider them national monuments of pride' - just expected assets of a city or town.

But when a Malaysian tries his or her best, and is able to meet the requirements to be accepted into the Olympics to compete in an open fair forum against some of the world's best athletes, Malaysians are quick to condemn, instead of holding these people high and being proud of their efforts.

I am proud of our Malaysian athletes for giving it their very best, for representing Malaysia in true sportsmanship and for making it further then any of us sitting at home could have possibly done.

Malaysia, get patriotic about real and honorable things - it is not enough to be proud of stuff everybody else to round to having many years ago.