Despite not being affiliated to any political party in Malaysia, I would like to express my utmost support for MIC secretary-general S Sothinathan for at least having the guts to speak out for his community and other Malaysians. It has been too blatantly obvious in the last 10 years that a certain party in the Barisan National has been playing the big bully.

I am not very well-versed in my political history, hence correct me if I'm wrong. But I have read somewhere that the MCA and MIC used to play a decisive role in previous government policies. At one time, a Chinese, Tan Siew Sin used to the finance minister of our country.

Today, the MCA and MIC's importance has been relegated to that of fighting for the rights of their communities that have been eroded by unfair policy-making. The same policies that they have to silently agree to for the fear of losing their party's ministerial portfolios.

After keeping quiet and agreeing, the circus then begins. For instance, all the annual media hype about outstanding students having to appeal to the government for scholarships. After the appeals go through the MCA or MIC and are approved, they become heroes. Why should all this happen in the first place? It would not if the fundamentals were right.

I know I am just reiterating a point others have made in the past. But all this is getting too much. We must make a stand now. Enough is enough. The rest of the rakyat who do not have that 'know who connection' in Umno have rights too.

In this, I am not only saying that the Chinese and Indians that have been overlooked by the big bosses presently ruling. What about the indigenous people in Sabah and Sarawak as well as the rural Malays in Kelantan and Terengganu?

I am sure I speak for other fellow Malaysians as well. S Sothinathan, I, too, salute you for doing what you did.