I am responding to the letter 'Kiasu and pseudo-American' (Aug 30). The author seemed to have done his research and I must say I am impressed. However, he seems to be the only delusional one with regard to this entire issue.

My question is, how can you justify unlawful police acts such as bribery? I am clearly aware that the American policemen are better rewarded compared with our officers in Malaysia. However, this doesn't justify bribery, unless we think it is all right to steal if the perpetrator is poor. Whatever happened to good old hard work?

If your job doesn't pay you well, take it up with the authorities or get a second job. Underpaid police officers are the government's problem and not the people's.

Maybe the government should have thought about increasing the salaries of police personnel before spending a huge amount in building the world's tallest building. The word is 'priorities', something the Malaysian government can never get a grasp of.

The writer did mention that the American democracy is far from perfect. My question is, what about the so-called democracy we practise in Malaysia? Are we blinded by our patriotism that we just choose to ignore the bogus democracy we have in Malaysia?

Where is our freedom of choice and free speech? We are supposed to have the right to hold peaceful demonstrations when we disagree with the government's decisions but can we practise this in Malaysia?

Any act of this nature will be a good enough reason to bring out the water cannons that blast chemical-laced liquid, tear gas, the FRU batons or, worse still, the ISA. We are forbidden to voice our individual political opinion. I will not touch on the ISA issue for fear of being brutalised.

Democracy means "for the people by the people". We elect our leaders to represent , not rule us. If we had any semblance of democracy in our country, we would not have to fear Mahathir and we would be able question his acts and decisions, and even replace him if we find a need to do so. But honestly, can we do that without enjoying the 'first-class' treatment of his private army (the ISA)?

Equality is another major quality we lack in Malaysia. It is an isolated problem in the US and the constitution doesn't protect it. Scholarships are given to the deserving ones immaterial of ethnicity.

There are no special investment funds or business privileges for any ethnic group let alone the majority. Employment is based on credentials and not race. For the most part you just have to be an American or possess a valid employment visa.

I am not ruling out the fact that discrimination does not exist in the US but the difference is that the law doesn't protect it. They don't practise "legal discrimination" or as Mahathir would say "positive discrimination".

We are very thankful that Malaysia acknowledges other religious celebrations but please don't forget that the minorities are not second-class citizens. We, too, help build the country. Don't forget before petroleum, the nation's economy depended upon tin, rubber and palm oil and the railroads played an important role in transporting these expensive commodities.

Who were the miners? Who worked the rubber plantations? Who built the railroads? These people who worked to their bones so that the entire nation could enjoy economic prosperity.

Even during the past economic crisis, the non-bumiputras, too, made sacrifices and worked harder so that the nation would get back on its feet. We weren't given anything special; it's our hard-earned right and not a privilege. I would rather be an immigrant in the US than a Malaysian citizen.

This has nothing to do with being grateful but everything to do with being a 'second-class citizen' in my own country. It is something most bumiputras will never understand simply because they had never felt that way.

We can condemn the US as much as we want but the whole world knows that it is, and will always be, the land of dreams. Malaysia cannot and will not aspire to be like this land simply because it would be impossible to achieve this much liberty, freedom, justice and equality, which could well be why some people resent the US.

Lastly, we are not kiasu ; we are merely oppressed.