With reference to Shukri's '"Kiasu" and the pseudo-Americans', Aug 30), there is certainly a lot to say about our tanah air. I love Malaysia, my birth place, but not the people who rule her.

Though things in America are not perfect, I can say anything I want without the fear of repercussions and Perantau ('Decadent' western values, Aug 27) is probably comparing his own experiences of both worlds. We don't make up (bad) images abroad and it is the government policies that have driven many of us away.

There are countless books, literature, studies and so forth written about the pros and cons of America by all Americans. In comparison, can Shukri justify or authenticate his argument the same way? His analysis is obviously flawed and shallow for a learned person. There is no substance but distortion. For instance, what proof does he have to say that Malaysians prefer to bribe the authorities than face up to whatever the charges maybe?

Another interesting fact my fellow Malaysians may not be aware of is that the police force in the US is under the jurisdiction of their particular locality like NYPD in New York City and LAPD in Los Angeles. There is no national police force, very unlike the one in Malaysia. So can the writer clarify which one he was relating to?

There are major differences between here and there. I can understand the complexities abroad, but his analysis of local issues is just as kelam-kabut (all jumbled up). The existence of cultural holidays in Malaysia is due in part to the agreement made by the founding fathers. Without the co-operation of these three racial components during the critical years, Malaya would never have gained Merdeka.

We learn history to understand humans' struggles and developments across time, in hopes of bettering themselves and avoiding costly mistakes. Dr Mahathir Mohamad's affirmative action policy is one prime example of a colossal failure. There is no shame in learning a relatively better system of governance outside our own and by simply dismissing the imperfection of others as an excuse to cover up our own inadequacies, is actually doing a disservice to ourselves.

A final note, many of the policies undertaken by the authorities are in fact funded by taxes paid by all Malaysians! The beneficiaries of such efforts should be grateful to all who have sacrificed for and contributed to their well-being.