LETTER | Dear Cik Serena,

 I refer to the report Mukhriz's daughter slams anti-Icerd rally participants, says they are a 'disappointment'.

Thank you for being honest about how you really feel about the Malaysian masses. It is so refreshing to have a person of such charmed upbringing tell us how she really feels about us.

Often, elites will pretend to care about the masses, while keeping their true sentiments about us securely hidden. You felt no need to veil your disgust of us, and we appreciate your brutal honesty.

Your grandfather had defended your right to make such statements. We agree with him. Every Malaysians’ right to free speech, however unsavoury, should be staunchly defended. We believe you will agree with us on this point, lest be unveiled as a hypocrite.

We would like to remind you, Cik Serena, that those people you are disgusted at are also Malaysians. They also have the right to free speech. They had been granted permission to gather and had abided by the terms of the permit.

As much as you have the right to express your disgust of them, they have the same right to express their grievances, whatever that may be. Every individual has some causes that are dear to their hearts, and if they decide to express their conviction collectively, this should be celebrated. That is the true spirit of free speech.

Instead, you chose you to resort to insulting the exercise of their right to freedom of expression. That is your right. And we will defend your right to voluntarily expose your true sentiments. But don’t be a coward and pretend to be the victim here.

When you initiate a public posting insulting a section of the Malaysian public, it is their right to engage with you, if they choose to. And if they choose to, they have all the right to express whatever sentiments they have for you, as honestly as they want.

It is rather weak to call others as bullies when you don’t have a good reply for them. Don’t you agree? Or do you believe you alone have the monopoly on free speech?

Democracy is a struggle. It is a struggle worth having. Hypocrisy and self-righteousness are the cancers that kill democracy, because one day, you will believe your own lies and mistake them for the ultimate truth. The only way for us to progress as a nation is to start being brutally honest about what we want. Once we get the answer to that, we need to fight for it, for everyone, not just those in our camp.

Currently, we are a very confused nation. We loudly proclaim that we want free speech and freedom of expression. Yet when others voice their opinion and demonstrate their conviction, they are “disgusting”. We say we want unity. Yet we refuse to abandon a divisive education system, which segregates the population from childhood.

We tell the rakyat not to fall into the trap of communalism. Yet our politicians routinely make disparaging statements which hurt the sensitivities of each community.

Oh, Malaysia ... such a contradictory nation. She can be fixed. Once we decide to stop being hypocrites.

Cik Serena, there is no need to apologise. Thank you for telling us how you really feel about us. It is not often that the elites reveal their true face.

We will take all these into account in the next election. All the best, Malaysia!

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.