2) Malaysia’s multiethnic polity is very unique because of the following facts: a) At the time of Merdeka, not one single ethnic grp dominated both economically and politically; b) The historical reality of the Malay polity existed then; c) The poor economic situation of the Malays; d) The rise of the Malay Nationalism which had to be interrupted with the formation of Malaya; e) Owing to the last three factors, the Special Position of the Malays has been safeguarded in the Constitution.

3) Therefore, right from the beginning Malayans (later Malaysians)had been divided into 3 ethnic groups with three distinctive political parties. Even the socialist-based opposition, the Socialist Front, was made up of predominantly Chinese Labour Party and the Malay-based Parti Rakyat. Has this changed very much even after the 308 GE? BN and PR?

4) I’m not euphoric over the point that our voters are no longer racial in their votings,etc. Of course I secretly wish that this non-racial voting pattern will last but it is too early to treat this as a sociological conclusion. My own contention is that people voted against BN, rather than wanted to vote in the Opposition. Of course, now that it had happened voters have seen an alternative which they might want to keep. Therefore it all depends on the PR to convince them that non-racial is better. (This doesn’t mean that PAS, DAP and PKR have not been and are not racial.)

5) My reading is that the Malay votes will return to BN unless BN continues to be rotten and PR’s rule provides a viable alternative.

6) Race-based parties should be done away with. But by our country’s misfortune they have to remain, ie remaining race-based in structure, they should have a multi-racial approach in their politics and they should openly work for the interests of the people as a whole. Otherwise they will perish. This is especially true for UMNO. This, I’m sure. Not only racial politics are not workable but will be rejected by the people.

7) As long as the “Special Position” is still in the Constitution (that is, if the Malays still want it or other ethnic groups shouldn’t work for its abolition), Malaysia will remain as multi-ethnic as it is. As long as our young still go to schools of their ethnic origins without interaction, not even in the Universities, our people will still be divided. In short, there is not much time left for us to stop this segregation, whether designed or not.

Thanks for your comment.

To me, “multi-racial” or “non-racial” still sounds very racial! I would prefer to simply use the term Malaysian approach. We are after all a Malaysian, regardless of our race, religions, languages & etc.

In short, Gerakan should start to regard itself as the Malaysian Party for Malaysian, by Malaysian and of Malaysian.