Ex-Journalist's ( Important messages from by-election) is concise on the wrongs inflicted on the Chinese community.

Chinese Malaysians have learnt over the last two years the meaning of 'gratitude' as spelt by the Barisan Nasional government.

Barely nine months after the election that almost mortified BN, the prime minister on national day ( PM likens Suqiu's actions to communists and Al-Ma'unah, Aug 30, 2000) insulted the Chinese community that had stood loyally behind him when his own community had rejected him. As a Chinese, I feel there is no deeper wound than that which was inflicted shamelessly on Merdeka day.

The Chinese community under the MCA still have a "migrant mentality." We are not migrants! We are Malaysians and therefore we do not need to have a carrot dangling before us to make us behave and tow the line. We do what is good for the nation — our beloved tanahair!

The MCA grovelling for handouts represents only a minority of Chinese who think nothing of selling their soul for a contract or a business deal.

We need a government that is accountable and not power-obsessed. A government that is progressive, abides by the law, thrives on meritocracy, respects the people and is sincerely keen to promote racial and social integration.

The best place to start is in our political system. I have no quarrel that the Malays have a bigger representation in our government as they are they are the majority, just the unfair practices and the 'lawlessness' that we are subject to in recent years.