I refer to the letter West's well-tested model best for governance . I disagree. The acid test for Western-style democracy is happening in Iraq and sadly, this system of governance is not faring very well. Around 100 people are dying in Iraq on a daily basis from bombs, missiles, gunshot wounds, minefields and kidnaps.

The first priority for any government is to maintain law and order which the present democratically-elected Iraqi government has failed to do. Even Saddam Hussein's cruel and sadistic ways were more successful in maintaining peace and security than the current Western- sponsored government in Iraq.

The writer claims that success of a nation depends on it adhering to the concepts of equality, rule of law, judicial independence, secularism, democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, free press and freedom from racial discrimination. Important to note that these are 'secondary' rights which should only be pursued only after 'primary' rights had been achieved.

Primary rights here mean freedom from hunger and poverty, freedom from preventable diseases, the right to basic healthcare, freedom from illiteracy and ignorance, the right to earn a decent living, the rights of the needy such as the elderly and disabled, freedom from war and terrorism, freedom from the easy availability of guns and weapons, freedom from drugs and substance abuse and finally, freedom from police brutality and indiscriminate arrest, detention and torture.

The writer mentions about Sunnis and Shias killing each other. Note that this is happening only in Iraq. Shias and Sunnis are not killing each other in multi-religious nations like Lebanon and Iran. The fighting in Iraq is a result of the policy known as 'divide and rule'.

Then the writer mentions about technological advancement. Let's not forget that Iraq was the most technologically advanced Arab country in the world before it was bombed to the Stone Age by the US-backed coalition. Now the people in Iraq only have electricity three hours daily, occasional running water, no sewage system, many schools and universities have closed and their hospitals are unhygienic, lacking in antibiotics and vaccines and without proper operating theatres.

Now, as Iran becomes the most technologically advanced Muslim country in the world, the US, which has the largest stockpile on nuclear weapons in the world, has warned it over its nuclear energy programme. Will Iran now be bombed back to the Stone Age like Iraq was? If this happens, right-wing apologists like the writer will insist they brought upon themselves for not inculcating the 'well-tested Western model of governance'.

I agree, however, with the writer that Malaysia has many faults such as institutionalised racism, police un-evenhandedness when dealing with cases, over-censorship, curtailment of basic freedoms and exploitation of workers. Not forgetting the poor social welfare scheme to help single mothers and also children left behind at school.

It can be too monumental a task for these children to catch up with the other students (unless assistance in provided since these students are poor and cannot afford tuition). Sadly, such children become destined to drop out of school and may become criminals and drug addicts.