I dream for the day in Malaysia when there is truly a Bangsa Malaysia and where all are equal in all aspects. But it is a long, long way off.

Our political system will remain along racial and religious lines for many, many years to come. Until then Umno, MCA and MIC and the other parties will continue to champion their cause for only their own race. This is only natural when political parties are based on race and religion and not on a common ideology or universal principles.

The strongest amongst them gets the best. The sad part of the present system is that though it is in an alliance, a minority party like the MIC is ignored with regards to its genuine requests especially for a measly corporate wealth reservation of 1.5 percent.

I fully agree that an open and competitive system should evolve to face the challenges of globalisation but for this we must first dismantle our racial and religious barriers and have political parties based on common universal principles or ideology .

Until then the disadvantaged group whether they are Indians, poor Sarawakians or Sabahans will have to continue to air their discontent in the name of their race.