Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

We welcome foreign inputs...
like FDI, foreign currencies, foreign aid and foreign favourable reports or comments…
but please do not tell us how to run our country.

Responses like "butt out" to India on harsh treatment of local Indians; "clean up your own backyard first" to USA on ISA; and "take it or leave it" to criticisms on NEP, are fairly common.

A Canadian columnist in a local newspaper said he was asked why he did not comment on anything wrong with the country and his reason was that he does not think it polite to do so. Well, if he wants to keep his column, he jolly well keeps it nice and pleasant!

First of all, Malaysians expect or hope a foreigner would comment on what is happening in the country because of our need (insecurity?), depending on which side we are on, to have additional opinions to support our public statements.

I am sure it is well known that any foreign comment favourable to the government is highlighted in every news media while adverse reports are either unreported or downplayed.

To those in the opposition or who are against many government policies, the lack of space in the mainstream media to express their strong views as well as the common fear of reprisal have led to the need for foreign or other critics to speak out for them.

To illustrate this point on perceived fear of reprisal, YB Teresa Kok once said that a group of house-owners in her constituency wanted her to complain about a mosque about to be built in their neighbourhood. A meeting was called and the response was poor. When she said that she required their names and identities, almost all declined! They just wanted her to complain on their behalves without revealing their identities!

The fear (real or imaginary) of reprisals relates to employment (especially those in government service), business (where there are business relationships with the government or merely where annual renewal of licences is required), children’s applications for scholarships, and so on.

In Malaysia, we have a unique situation where there is institutionalised racial discrimination in favour of the majority race. To many of us, it is no different from the old apartheid policy in South Africa, of which our ex-PM was a strong critic then!

We are forbidden to discuss about this official discrimination because of the Sedition Act and the people discriminated against, are resigned to bearing with it.

Yet, every now and again, we have to put up with hypocritical statements made by our leaders about their self-claimed fairness in treating everyone equally and there is no discrimination! Please don’t insult our intelligence or rub salt into injury.

If we were to give specific examples, we are likely to be accused of fanning racial sensitivities.

Only recently, Umno Information Chief made a statement to the effect that local authorities should take it easy on small traders and we all know even before that, the authorities have been selective in their actions. Why not make it official policy for all?