I read the report that a group of Chinese community leaders had served a rare Chinese tea "fit for emperors" to Dr Mahathir Mohamad in appreciation of his contributions to the Chinese community in a ceremony held at Putrajaya recently (PM served tea 'fit for emperors', Aug 29).

I do not understand the significance of this tea-serving ceremony but I took offense at the picture of a little boy, dressed in ancient Manchurian gown and a cap with pig-tail, serving tea to Dr Mahathir. People who understand the Chinese history would know what I am trying to put across.

What now after the tea-serving ceremony?

Have we forgiven Mahathir for calling Suqiu and the Chinese educationists "extremists" and "communists"?

Have we forgotten the promises he made before the last general election that more Chinese primary schools will be built if Barisan Nasional were to return to power? Have we also forgotten that the Damansara Chinese primary school remains closed despite the lack of schools to house the ever-increasing number of Chinese primary school students?

Have we also forgotten that brutal crime rates are on the increase yet the grossly under-staffed police force are being deployed to clamp down on peaceful assemblies by the opposition parties to serve the interests of the politicians? Who are the police supposed to protect, the ordinary people or the politicians?

Have we forgotten the blatant and constant abuse of the government machinery and the breach of human rights to serve the interests of the politicians?

Have we forgiven the man who is obsessed with creating gigantic monuments just so the world will look at us in 'awe' and that we should be proud of these so-called achievements?

Have we forgiven the man for the constant lies and denials churned out by the government machinery on the country's current state of affairs?

If the answers to the above are no, tell me then, why are we serving tea to Mahathir in this manner?