Thank you for Salbiah Ahmad's narrative [#1] When silence loses its voice [/#] (April 20) for its insightful perspective about what silence says.

I would like to add on how silence almost always also recklessly permits the opportunists to hijack a view and attribute it to the majority, thus justifying actions of those in power or authority and having control over views. Continued silence after that mandates that view.

This is one societal and human flaw that unfortunately has not been addressed whether by the human rights movers or the law makers. Speaking as one of a silent majority tends often to make one's views rather generic and neutral and sounding wise and without bias or influence.

Everytime I hear or read any sentence beginning with "a member of the silent majority", I squirm as that person has just announced his departure from that majority and yet he usurps the power to speak out what he conjures up to be the view of the remaining members of that majority. Remaining true to their membership, the rest continue to remain silent. Without any objections to what was attributed to the majority the view becomes law and it now becomes the basis upon which authorities act upon.

In reality it is the hijackers of views attributed to the majority by pretenders who assume a membership and identification with that majority who contribute to legitimising harder lines taken by authorities.

Considering, therefore, the power of words spoken in the name of the silent majority, I would suggest that as part of universal law there should be a total ban and absolute censorship by all publishers and media broadcasters of statements by common people where it is made to sound like as if that they indeed represent the views of the silent majority.

There is a need to protect the continued violation of the sacrosanct rights of the silent majority. That majority will indeed continue to remain silent even when one among its members has a falling-out and attempts to speak on its behalf. Unfortunately, I do not know of any formal body or NGO that represents this majority in ensuring the sanctity of its presence in this world is protected at all times.

To all those opportunists who thrive on usurping or hijacking views they conveniently attribute to the silent majority, may I remind them of how offensive and destructive it is.

Since I have expressed my views and have often written to this column, it is obvious I cannot be a member of this esteemed club. Maybe someone from that club will second my proposal and views, though, of course, you will then be automatically dismissed from that club!