Shahrir Abdul Samad came out criticising umno's leadership -what's the big deal ([#1]Dr M to blame for Lunas defeat: Umno veteran[/#], Nov 30)?

Some view it as refreshing and gutsy but I find Shahrir and his comments as disingenuous and hypocritical - given the fact that if Umno had won Lunas it would have been another victory attained through fraudulent means and where voters are consistently disenfranchised.

God knows how many elections Umno and its components have won in the past through fraud. Does Shahrir care to enlighten us? It's a brave new world out there and Malaysians are still timid to ask for change and to fight for what's right for themselves and for their children.

I'm blessed with three wonderful children and I have made a decision not too long ago - in the aftermath of the now infamous trial of Anwar Ibrahim - that I will not subject my children to the kind of society that we're witnessing in Malaysia today, where politicians in the old guard are preaching hate and divisiveness, pitting one race against another.

And the saddest part - at least, to me - was to witness the gross injustice done to one man and friends and foes alike just stood by and allowed it to happen. Did Shahrir show his guts then?

I will see that my children are citizens of a nation where they have the right to dissent without fear of something terrible happening to them and their family, and that they live in a nation where they dare to dream, a nation where they'll be free to succeed regardless of their political affiliations and most of all in a nation where they'll be free to make choices.

Until Shahrir comes out forcefully with an agenda for real change, I don't see him as being courageous. Start by being more compassionate and then we'll talk about courage and guts. Spisis Umno sekarang bak pepatah melayu hidup segan, mati tak mahu.