The best present I received on the first day of the new year was reading (former police chief) Hanif Omar's article 'Let's make a united push' in The Sunday Star .

Like any loyal Malaysian, I feel encouraged to continue to believe in Vision 2020. Three of my four grown-up children did not believe that Vision 2020 will ever come true and they chose to migrate. I have failed to convince them to stay.

Every time I read about the New Economic Policy (NEP) or some injustice, I think of joining my three children. The worst test was when I saw Umno Youth head Hishamuddin Hussein with a keris , demanding the continuance of the NEP at the last Umno general assembly.

The advertisement jingle 'Malaysia, truly Asia' is intended to project the image of a contented, plural society living in prosperity while the reality is that there is simmering resentment particularly among the minority groups.

But Hanif's article is quite reassuring and offers the encouragement I need at this trying time.