I refer to the malaysiakini report Behind the Makkal Osai's suspension... While most Malaysians regardless of race and religion abhor the picture of Jesus Christ shown in a bad light as published by the Tamil daily, one would think that suspending the paper for a month is a tad harsh. That this Tamil daily is a rival to an MIC-owned paper makes one think that there is more to the suspension than meets the eye.

Everyone deserves a second chance and a stern warning to the managing editor of the paper to not repeat the same mistake would do for the moment. After all, the leaders of the Christian community have accepted the public apology by the newspaper and as the saying goes, 'to err is human, to forgive divine'. Let bygones be bygones and let this latest episode involving newspapers be put to rest.

As the Malay saying goes, the one-month ban by the internal security minister against Makkal Osai can be likened to the Malay saying, 'lebih sudu dari kuah'. Civilised society would think that the charade against the Tamil daily is just to score points with non-Muslims voters to win votes in the coming election. Other politicians have made more than racist speeches which can destroy national unity but because they are on the right side of the fence, the authorities chose to close one eye to their misdeeds.

Sad to say, race and religion are still being used to win votes and while the rich and powerful are untouchable for their misdeeds, the poor and unknown are being punish excessively for their minor misdeeds.

The rule of the law should be applied to all without discrimination but still one would think that the government has gone overboard in suspending for one month Makkal Osai's transgression.