IF I could write a letter to the Saudi Arabia government, it would be to ask the government to not carry out its threat to impose restrictions on Malaysians performing haj and umrah.

I think the Saudi government would be doing Malaysia, a long-time ally, a great injustice if it imposes restrictions or suspension in relations to the illegal Bersih 3.0 assemblies held in Mecca and Medina recently.

In as much as I understand that it is Saudi's prerogative to impose such conditions, let me argue that it is not in the spirit of fairplay.

The illegal rallies in Saudi were the work of a handful of Malaysians, and the masses should not be penalised as a country for the group's misbehaviour.

Notwithstanding whether or not one agrees with the spirit of Bersih 3.0, the issue on the Saudi side is the fact that these small groups of Malaysians had thumbed their noses at the government there by going ahead with the gatherings.

It is only right to understand why they are unhappy. You don't come to our country and do as you please. It is as simple as one being upset when strangers come to the house and go through belongings in your master bedroom.

We understand that for every action, there is reaction. As conveyed by Saudi Arabian ambassador to Malaysia, Fahad A.H Al-Rashid at a meeting last Friday, the Middle-East country is displeased that its stand on unlawful rallies was compromised by the Malaysian groups that held the Bersih gatherings.

Those groups should not have pushed their luck with the Saudi government.

It is a well-known fact that the Saudi government is extremely sensitive towards any form of unlawful assembly, more so after the Arab Spring, an uprising in several West Asian countries. It wants to send out a firm message that it does not condone disrespectful acts against its government anywhere in the world, and more so on their own soil.

I hope common sense will prevail. Malaysians have had a long history of being disciplined pilgrims. That should be a plus point for us.

I hope the Saudi government will not carry out its threat. Certainly, it shouldn't deny all Malaysians their dream of performing umrah and haj because of a handful who were disrespectful?

*The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer.