It is my contention that the recent racial remark by Khairy Jamaluddin and strong response from both MCA and Gerakan was a mere 'wayang kulit' with the main objective of strengthening each other's existent and relevancy.

Khairy is intelligent enough to know what to say and what not to say. And those remarks in my opinion is cleverly put up during Merdeka celebration to attract attention and aimed at none other than to show to the gullible Malaysian public that racial politics are still relevant in protecting their own racial interest.

MCA and Gerakan in my opinion would not dare to speak against the powerful Umno unless they have prior understanding and the intention of fooling the Malaysian public of how each of them has worked hard to protect their own community's interest.

With Khairy's remark, Umno is seen as still fighting for the Malays and that they have not forgetting the Malays' struggle. MCA and Gerakan would in turn play as someone who is not afraid to speak up against the powerful Umno and indirectly telling the Chinese to vote for MCA and Gerakan in the next general election in order for them to fight Umno and not splitting the Chinese votes.

The latest remark by Umno in Penang regarding the chief minister's post and the Malays' economic position in the island is yet another show of racial politics. The show was cleverly played up to tell the Chinese to continue to vote for Gerakan and MCA to protect the chief minister's post from falling into Umno's hand.

The last election in Sarawak surely has shown to the Barisan Nasional that the public is not very happy and satisfy with BN's economic and social policy. The increasing crime rate and economic hardship felt by general public after the petrol price hike are like rubbing salt into the wounds.

Umno knows very well that the parties that are going to lost heavily will be MCA and Gerakan and is somewhat confident that Malays will always vote for Umno, so the Malays will not pose an immediate danger to them. What Umno needs to get are Chinese and Indian votes.

To solidify the Chinese and Indian votes for MCA and Gerakan, BN has to play up the issue that non-Malay fears most and things that community leaders would hope MCA and Gerakan to fight for them. What's easier than to play up the Chinese sentiment by assuming a bad guy's role and let MCA and Gerakan score points - Umno too is scoring some points with their own supporters - so one stone kills two birds and everyone is happy? The only loser would be those who think they are truly Malaysian.

And of course, Abdullah would come in and plays the 'Malaysian' prime minister role and telling everybody to stay calm and unite for a better tomorrow. On the other hand, the opposition will continue to struggle and not certain who and what to fight for, and will be told not to mess around with Wawasan 2020 and the Malays agenda.

At the end of the day, crime rate still remain high, petrol price still goes up, corruption still remain unsolved, Penang still headed by Gerakan and Rafidah Aziz/Samy Vellu/Ong Ka Ting, etc, still remain as ministers, Khairy will be promoted to deputy minister, and we, the voters, are still stuck in traffic jams. God Bless Malaysia.