I refer to your report Controversial Cairo trip cancelled, DAP rep blamed . This article burns me. I am dumbfounded as to the mindsets of these representatives. I am also outraged at the mainstream media's lukewarm response to this episode and that of Malacca Menteri Besar Mohd Ali Rustam's trip to the US .

Whatever happened to all the gung-ho MIC, MCA and Umno Pemuda(s) and Puteri(s) et al? Why the deafening silence from these appointed champion of the masses? I think it is about time that all these youth movements rid of themselves of their sycophantic covers and fight for the truth even though they may slight their own patrons.

First of all, most of those who ran for office in the last general election, especially the Barisan Nasional candidates, were mostly relatively wealthy. And when they contested for office, they certainly didn't tell us that they would be taking rakyat-paid trips on 'study tours' once elected.

Why is it that there appears such a sudden urge to embark on such trips once they are in power? I am incensed with sheer insensitivity that these Yang Berhormat(s) are exhibiting. They have a disdain for their very own electoral voters.

For example, they have stated there is a limit to the help the government can extend to the tsunami victims in Kedah, Perlis and Penang as the government has limited resources. But apparently, they can spend huge sums of money on trips to the Nile and the French Quarter in New Orleans (if only the majority of Muslim voters know what French Quarter is really like).

Remember it was Ali Rustam who garnered the highest number of votes for the Umno vice-presidency during the party polls last year. Where is the shame and conscience of Umno members? Just who is Umno serving?

As far as I am concerned, these trips are but a symptom of the downright fleecing of the state treasury - at the expense of the complacent rakyat. I was hoping to hear more voices from Umno Youth and Puteri calling for a stop to these junkets but to no avail.

Shame on these leaders. I am left wondering as to how Umno members and leaders will justify their silence on all this blatant abuse of power around us. Yet, they beat their chests and proclaim that they are Islamic and have an Islamic scholar as their leader. How ironic.