So there are traitors in our midst, eh? Well, hey, who gets to play judge, jury and executioner? Who gets to decide who's treacherous? On what basis? Is speaking your mind about something that to you is not right, treachery?

Suddenly, it all sounds patently ridiculous. And guess what? So was True Malaysian's ranting letter ('NGOs influenced by opposition', May 16).

Going by his/her 'argument', we don't even need to bother with a court. All you need is a healthy dose of trust for government mouthpieces, and maybe a little sixth sense. Voila! You can then 'see' guilty people.

If he/she is so cocksure that the 10 blokes are guilty of threatening national security, then he/she must know something that the rest of the Malaysian public doesn't.

Because all we are getting from the police right now are fanciful claims without a shred of evidence to back them up.

Without anything to judge them against, how can the court - much less people on the streets - say anything on the matter? What, you mean I can just drag someone I don't like to court and have them sentenced just because I say so? Hey, that would be neat! Would you like it if I did that to you?

And what's this? Not only are those opposition types militant, they've also got the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) wrapped around their fingers, huh? Well, where's the basis?

Show us and let's see it, man! Are those dirty political parties paying the hapless volunteers off or what? If so, where are the receipts? Where are the surveillance photos that show them meeting up in a clandestine manner?

I mean, work with me here. Gimme something to believe what you're saying! Don't just shoot your mouth off - someone might just make a police report against you for making false claims and thus betraying the integrity of this country!

Another thing, if one really is a 'True Malaysian', then why hide behind the veil of anonymity? It makes one look like a sniveling coward. Why not use your real name and stand up for what you believe in?

See, there's a reason why some people use their real names when they write to malaysiakini. It's because they want to be counted among those who truly love their country. They want to exercise their right to be able to express their feelings without being discriminated against.

Look, don't get me wrong. I don't agree with street demos, either. I think it is disruptive, and ultimately it serves no legitimate purpose. It is even downright unfair to the others who may not agree with what a handful of people are doing. That's why I find Allen Otten's letter refreshing ('Write, not disrupt your way to change', May 15).

But having said that, trying to put things straight by consenting to acts of grave injustice, in my opinion, means we are no better than the people we may despise.

And for Malaysia to move forward stronger as a nation, we need intelligent discourse. Not half-cooked allegations thrown about in a tantrum.