With regard to your report Broga group pledges national campaign in which I was quoted, I have a few things more to say. I am glad though that they now want to make it a national issue, which is what it should have been from the start, with the announcement that Ebara has confirmed the deal (even though Malaysia is still in the dark about it).

I called the anti-incinerator fight a "self-centred" o­ne because it's the honest truth. I also said that it should be a national fight, as it is a national issue. I did not attack anyone personally, and if some people misunderstood the point, then I apologise for rubbing you up the wrong way.

I stated my stand clearly - that I am against anything that may be hazardous to our health. My stand has been strengthened even more as I was at the incinerator forum in Kajang last Sunday, and the statistics o­n the rise in asthma cases and disabled children being born was pretty shocking stuff.

Now, to link all those statistics together and present a very strong case to the authorities, everybody needs to work together. Not just the people who live in the designated area for the construction of the incinerator.

The truth is, NGOs, certain opposition parties as well as selected concerned individuals are there to fight for anybody and everybody anywhere in Malaysia, but most individuals will (more likely than not) o­nly get involved in a cause if it directly affects them.

All issues are important, not just this incinerator issue, (but) how many people are proactive in making this country better for all Malaysians?

How many people (who are not already activists, sympathisers and supporters) give a hoot about the people detained under the Internal Security Act?

How many people complain about police corruption but o­nce they are stopped (for a traffic offence), will happily bribe instead of insisting o­n a summons being issued?

How many people actually call the traffic lights centre to report lights that are out of order?

How many people in Puchong will continue to throw out their rubbish without sorting out the stuff that can be recycled?

The truth hurts. Malaysians are apathetic and paranoid for all sorts of wrong reasons. And worse still, that's their excuse for not helping to make this country a better place for all Malaysians.

What's needed is a change in the mindset in all Malaysians. That though will probably take several generations, because monkey see, monkey do, and if the people today don't start changing their mindset, their children too will do exactly that.

And please, I'm talking o­n a general level here, so don't start sending me hate mail!