At 6pm yesterday, I switched on the TV and caught the TV1 news by accident. I watched with horror the Indonesian ethnic clashes which have spread to Kalimantan.

But it was nothing compared to the horror of what the newscaster had to say next, that the violence started from citizens demonstrating on the streets against corruption, nepotism, favouritism etc. Next were interviews with local people who were quoted as saying that street demos are bad for our 'reputation' and 'counterproductive' for the economy. As if we didn't know that they were really about ethnicity and religion!

I watched with pity the face of the newscaster, and thought, what a waste of good looks and voice on our newscasters when they can't even accord the respect due to their own profession. Who are they trying to bluff? Do they think citizens of Malaysia have such a low level of intelligence?

It's been more than a year since the 1999 general elections in which the Umno-led Barisan Nasional had its worst performance, partly because people nowadays are more informed and will not take the Umno-sponsored news at their face value.

But does BN ever learn anything? Nope. It's right in front of their eyes, but they refuse to see.

I surely hope our leaders have some pride left to make things right.