I refer to Malaysiakini report Muhyiddin: ‘Racist’ principal outside my jurisdiction .

I just want to pose a simple and logical question as to who has more authority, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) or the Public Services Department who reports to the powers-that-be?

It is very obviously seen as shirking of his responsibility and hiding under someone else's skirt and still try to remain relevant and continue to play the role of a DPM.

This is another clear example and behaviour of a person who believes national pride plays second fiddle to race or religion. A leader of high authority - giving cheap and lame excuses for his own misguided and biased principles - only spreads confusion, suspicion, anger and disgust by making ridiculous and misleading statements.

If at all any respect is to be accorded to the 1Malaysia program, it is paramount that racists in any form, colour or authority, should not be tolerated in any way, more so in educational institutions and schools, where the very foundation of racial harmony and well being is to be set and helped to nurture.

If people involved in the teaching profession are not able to undertake the important job of inculcating good and useful values to the children then they should be weeded out.

Racism has made its ugly presence known and become more prominent because the Malay ruling party has been given a severe shake up in the last general elections by someone who was taken for granted as a has-been with a highly questionable charge hanging over his head.

This shake-up involves a sizable Malay electorate moving to the opposition after realising that whatever has been promised was mainly benefitting a selected elite, strongly aligned to the powers-that-be. Therefore, it is seen as an indirect desperate effort to cling to power through fear and intimidation.

The two recent cases of 'racist' remarks may just be the tip of iceberg as fear may have prevented others from coming forward to lodge their complaints. A lopsided racial composition of the teaching staff in most national type schools may compound this cynical attitude rather than minimise or prevent it.

If leaders do not show an unbiased and impartial judgment when issues of a highly provocative nature are brought to their attention, then this creates a feeling that such leaders only care for their own power and well-being and as such, are afraid to make decisions seen to further erode the support base.

If we cannot rely on the leaders to cultivate a feeling of racial harmony and tolerance then parents should play this role more effectively to ensure that we create the kind of right attitude in our

children rather then they look at each other with disdain.

We are a nation amply blessed with good weather, hardly any natural disasters and a cross- section of rich cultures and talents that others look upon with great envy. Such a gift must be treasured, sustained or given further impetus and not destroyed.

If the current leaders who hold the power cannot or are not willing to change then it is only logical to change them through the ballot box in the forthcoming elections.