I refer to the letter by Ho Mun Wah ('Nanyang issue exploited', June 20). He seems to be portraying as bad guys, the eight MCA central committee members who rejected the Nanyang takeover, and that they are using this issue to overthrow incumbent president Dr Ling Liong Sik. He even goes on to warn us that we must not allow ourselves to be the pawns of these people.

The writer may be right, but these eight 'bad' people are the only ones in the MCA central committee who seem to know what the Chinese community wants. That it may fit into their own political agenda is a stroke of good fortune for them.

That, unfortunately, is the realistic nature of politics. Not every leader out there is as selfless as Gandhi or Mandela. That is why we introduce democracy - to hopefully help curb the ambitions of our leaders and remind them that they are there at the will of the people. Should they ever forget the importance of our opinions and our will, we should get rid of them.

In regard to these eight people, let us support them for now as their immediate goals are the same as the community's.