To me, as a socialist, the principle of wealth, income and opportunity distribution is rather simple and straightforward: Help only those who are really in need, whatever their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

Umnoputra, not Bumiputra, should be left out. So too, their corresponding partners in the Barisan Nasional parties. The wealth of the nation should be shared equally among all classes.

My principle is the same as Zakaria Maria's ([#1] As a Muslim, I'm for Suqiu [/#], Dec 23), but I disagree with the writer that there is only the distinction between Malays and Muslims. I am a genuine Malay, but I am also a socialist who is for universal social justice. However, I think, socialism and Islam, or for that matter, Christianity, share certain views about human conditions and their improvement.