COMMENT He dropped the bombshell midway through dinner. The reasons, he argued, were better opportunities and having grown tired of racism in Malaysia.

But racism exists everywhere, I protested, hoping it would dissuade him from emigrating but it was greeted with laughter instead.

"I do not mind being called an immigrant elsewhere. But it hurts when I am told that I am a ‘pendatang’ in the land where my father and I were born. I do not want my children to endure this as well."

With that, I knew nothing more could be said or done except to bid him farewell.

The racial remarks that keep piling in the aftermath of last weekend’s Bersih 4 rally reminded me of that conversation with a friend, who is now residing in New Zealand, where he claims to be happier - at least on non-gastronomical terms...