I have to register my disgust over Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's comments following the anti-Article 11 roadshow demonstrations. He has said all of us should be very cautious on the subjects of race and religion. The point to me is that he should be saying this not to us silent majority Malaysians, but to the protesters and, of course, their organisers.

We suffering silent majority members have been trying to do what we are very good at, like minding our own business, working our guts out just in order to earn enough money to keep on going in an environment of rising prices. We work to increase the national wealth of the country. Also, we pray to God hoping that things will be okay at the end of the day.

But these spiritual hooligans are now behaving in the direct opposite to what we are doing. They are not good at creating national wealth, but instead mind other people's business while living on the fat of the land. These very same people - dependent as they are on the wealth of the country - are now saying at the end of the day, when we pray, we are to do so in their way. They refuse to allow us to pray in our chosen way. Now they are saying we can not even try to protect our right to pray in our chosen way.

AAB, you know who these people are, for once upon a time (though not too long ago) you have told them they must not be thinking with a kampung mentality and be on crutches. You have wisely told them to adopt a new mentality and be First World citizens with First World mentality. They should throw away their crutches so that they can live 'dengan bermertabat' (your own expression, which I deem to mean with status, pride and dignity).

Here is an opportunity for you to tell these people they have to throw their crutches away pronto if they really would wish to develop this new First World mentality and to protect and project the prestige and status of Islam.

Remind them 2020 is not too far away. Malay people can then live 'dengan bermertabat'. Tell them of the very possible loss of face (loss of 'mertabat') when 2020 arrives and the crutches are still demanded by the Malays.

Right now, they seem lost. Perhaps they do not even know what they are doing nor where they are heading. But you do. So, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, please do not let this opportunity slip away.