It is deplorable that several Umno-Barisan leaders and their controlled press have tried to instigate the Malay community over the resignation of Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim from DAP.

As if Umno ever had any Chinese as a senior member of the Umno Council!

DAP have had several Malays as candidates for the elections, some of whom have won on DAP ticket. It has had more Indian YBs than all the Barisan parties.

It is true that for Tunku Aziz, his Malay race, in addition to his well-respected public record, contributed to his appointment as vice-chairman of DAP and as senator as he was very new to DAP.

However, the recent dispute with other DAP leaders had nothing to do with his race as a Malay.

In fact, public criticism of the official DAP stand on Bersih 3.0 would probably have lead to disciplinary action being taken against him if he were a non-Malay.

This has happened to other DAP leaders in the past.

The decision not to renew his three year term as senator was taken before the incident. In any case he was replaced by another prominent Malay activist.

However, the DAP leaders could have been more proactive and diplomatic in their remarks, considering that Tunku Aziz is an elderly and respected person.

An amicable solution would have avoided this unfortunate incident which has been exploited by Umno.