We refer to the malaysiakini report Crackdown on Eurasian faces triggers furore .

Pan-Asians are not representative of typical Malaysians. We remain encouraged by the cross- ethnic marriages and offspring as a result of these unions. But how is it that most of the time the Chinese-Malay mix, the Indian-Malay mix, the Indian-Chinese mix and even the indigenous Malay mix offspring do not enjoy the airtime the Eurasians or Pan Asians do on TV or the limelight on the local fashion runways?

If we really want to discuss discrimination, let's talk about the fact that you rarely ever see a dark skinned Indian newscaster, model, ad talent or VJ on local TV. This as opposed to international broadcasters who have employed intelligent, attractive dark-skinned women journalists as seen on BBC, CNN and also now on Al Jazeera International. We assure you these women have an across the board appeal.

The practice has been entirely the opposite in Malaysia. Advertising agencies, local broadcasting companies and entertainment talent scouts have been denying dark-skinned women of a single ethnicity opportunities in their fields.

They continue to favour fair-skinned women over dark-skinned women as parts of society choose not to break away from the remaining vestiges of colonial influence. This, unfortunately, perpetuates the whole colonial mentality and breeds racism.

Indian women in this country are especially impoverished and dark-skinned Indian women are amongst the lowest in the social and economic strata. They continue to be discriminated against because of the colour of their skin whether it is at the work place or in securing relationships. It is well-documented that even among the Indian communities, fairer-skinned Indians do not particularly seek out dark-skinned women.

Sadly, fair Pan Asian women continue to be used as a sales and marketing tools to define 'Asian beauty'. So my sisters, let us not be boxed in by the colonialist thinking of the advertising, entertainment and media industry.

Instead let us celebrate the diversity that Malaysia offers and work extremely hard towards removing all types of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, class, gender, disability and sexual orientation.