As hundreds of thousands of patriotic countrymen and women swamped the streets to save the country from a besmirched federal administration, we, the people set out to accomplish our duties as Malaysians and our ethnic distinctiveness were never in our thoughts.

If indeed the country’s minority’s inhabitants have become the focal point for the weekend rally, it is because the minorities long to be loved.

To our dear federal administrators, be Malaysian first, second and third; be absolutely colour-blind to the colour of our skins and to our religious convictions. In short, be the administrators for all Malaysians.

1. Love and care for the people’s feelings. Stop giving a frenzy of race rhetoric speeches. Attaining political stance by unscrupulous means will only hurt the people’s feelings more. Seriously, think of all Malaysians; think hard before open your mouth.

2. Love the people like family. Stop dishing out ‘divide and conquer’ gimmicks that bring enormous resentments among the people. Stop pitting people from diversities against each other. Seriously, start mobilising the under-utilised interfaith commission to harmonise, strengthen and bond the relationships of this multi-racial society of ours. Ditch the double standard practice; be just and honest to all Malaysians.

3. Love the downtrodden communities. Stop telling the minorities that they are not indigenous to this land, they have to earn their right to be here. No one should feel stateless or second class in this land of ours if they are the citizens of this country. Make the people feel they are citizens by deeds and not just on paper. Show equal, if not better, treatment to the minorities and you will reap the rewards from all Malaysians who witness what you do.

4. Love and appreciate the contributions of others, by what they can do and not who they are. Trust meritocracy as a means to nurture country’s intellects. Recognise that one of the most precious assets of a nation is his people, regardless of their background. Cherished Malaysians will repay the confidence bestowed upon them and there is no need to set up talent recruiters to woo Malaysians to return to serve the country.

5. Love and bond the people. Do not be a bystander like your chief executive officer who never cares to mediate when tension subsists, because uniting the people is never in his outlandish mind. Seriously, be a statesman (not an opportunistic politician) who is widely respected for integrity and impartial concern for the people’s good.

6. Love and listen to people’s needs and not turn a deaf ear to them. The Bersih 4 rally was a huge opportunity to hear what hundreds of thousands people have to say. Do not follow your chief executive officer (who has many things to hide). Engage and connect with the people. Do the political right things and your position in the federal administration will be sustained and long-lasting.

7. Love and support the people and only then will reciprocal support be viable. Earn your support and not just pay lip services. Insulting the minorities to gain support, not learning to give and take clearly exhibit lack of ‘People First, Performance Now’ initiative, a slogan greatly promoted by the federal administration.

It is easy to be voted into power along the racial line and remain in power on racial sentiment but while you are taking care of your bread, butter and power, you must have conscience and do the political right thing for all Malaysians.

The minorities are not blind and the people who voted you in are certainly not either. The Bersih 4 rally proved that the diversified urban dwellers have awaken and very soon these people will walk into the rural constituencies and across racial divide to collectively seek a federal administration that loves the people, and does the right thing for the people of Malaysia. The people’s power is contagious and the power of the people shall prevail.

Salam Bersih, from Melbourne.