At least two or three generations have evolved from being immigrants from China and India since the time of independance and the awarding of this so-called citizenship. Many of us have become alien to the cultures our grandparents were accustomed to because we were born and raised into an education system and mindset wholly from this "Malaysian society." None of us Malaysian Chinese are familiar with the communist system or China's present ideologies taught in their schools. Neither are our fellow Malaysian Indians accustomed to the caste system which they escaped their homelands for. Our mindset and culture has evolved from being assimilated into this nation. We are very far from being the immigrants the British brought us here to be.

"However, this policy must be continued until the objective is achieved. The delegates must also bear in mind that the economic agenda is not the only Malay agenda on the table as it complements the five Malay special privileges and forms a pillar of the nation together with the other races," he added.

So, Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, of course we have forgotten about the "privileges of citizenship." It is because we are Malaysians now. Not Chinese, not Indians. And if you think we should be grateful for our grandfathers, or great grandfathers being awarded this "special privilege of citizenship", I will openly tell you I am not. Because being a citizen means being able to make a difference - Not by being told to shut up and be thankful. Not by being told to share my wealth with a race who doesn't need to work as doubly hard as I do. Not by being discriminated because my name has no binti. Not my being forced to convert if I fall in love with a default Muslim. Not by paying 7% more for a house built on this land. Not by accepting that the Malays get five special privileges while the rest share one, namely "citizenship". And most of all, not by being treated as a second class Malaysian.