The Barisan Nasional government is trying to correct racial polarisation, especially in schools and now in housing, in a very patchwork manner. The problem begins with racist politics and no attempt to cover it up will work.

If the government believes it can force students to come closer together and people to live together when racism permeates their everyday lives, they are truly — in short — stupid, delusional and morally corrupt.

The fact of the matter is that when we go about our lives whether in work or in play, our minds consciously and unconsciously think about racial differences as defined by the government. Just because we do not say or shout out loud about it, it does not mean it isn't out there when we are at work, opening a business, buying a house or even shopping groceries at the stores.

When racial politics define our psyche so deeply, forcing people to live in the same dormitories and study in the same school compound is merely cosmetic and may even worsen things.

Face it: Malaysia is a racist country. I do not think that Malaysians are generally racist, nor would they wish to be, but the truth is that politicians propagate racist policies in this country. As Islam had been hijacked by extremists, Malaysian politics after Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, was hijacked by zealots within Umno to a certain extent.

Mahathir's policy on race is the same as his policy on meritocracy — he is not fully committed to it and fears its 'downside'.

In the end, just as he is unable to see the long-term wisdom of meritocracy and free markets, so is he blind to the wisdom of racial-equality, diversity and integration of all races.

In the end, he cannot outgrow his own Malay conservatism. Sad to say, most of Umno now, unlike the days of Tunku, is the same.