The recently concluded Umno general assembly may have caused a lot of controversies and negative impressions of the ruling party, but the one most important point in its favour was the decision to telecast its proceedings live. It is a step in the right direction in line with our prime minister's call for a more open and accountable administration.

It is noteworthy that Umno deputy president Najib Razak has admitted that some of the speeches during the just concluded assembly had gone 'overboard' and were extreme. Even the PM has acknowledged that we have reached a dangerous point in the history of the nation as far as racial unity is concerned. He tried to calm the situation by his moderate stance in his winding-up speech, asserting that Malaysia is for all races and that Umno will take care of all.

If the proceedings were not telecast live, it would not have received so much adverse reactions from the public and our leaders will never realise that race relations in the country is not that rosy as has been painted all these while. It is regrettable that MCA and MIC have opposed future live telecasts. Political parties should know that their closed-door debates over the years have not brought the races together.

On the contrary, openness in the form of live telecasts could in fact restrain the delegates from uttering words and phrases that would be offensive to other races.

Some of the delegates, especially from the Umno youth wing, were oblivious to the likely ill effects that their statements could have on other communities. They were least bothered that what they uttered at the meeting could deeply hurt the feelings of fellow Malaysians of other ethnic communities. This is the result of a system that encourages 'living within your own cocoon' with little or no interaction with others.

The only way out of our present predicament is open, rational and civil dialogue, bearing in mind the sensitivities, fears and anxieties of all the races. This may not be easy, and may take a long time, but with full commitment and the might of the government machinery we have a reasonable chance of achieving a certain degree success.

Our leaders of all political parties must impress upon their members that the federal constitution guarantees the rights of all the citizens and that all races are here to stay, in the land they consider as their motherland. Nobody is threatening to rob others of their rights as all they ask for is their own rights as enshrined in the federal constitution. We should not overreact to imaginary threats that would only create chaos.

In the meantime, steps to educate the future generation should also be implemented now without any delay. Children from all races must be taught to understand and respect the sensitivities of other races. Free mingling of people of all races from young, freedom of expression and open dialogue in a civil manner must be actively encouraged as these would help instill tolerance towards others.

We hope the leaders will not only continue with live telecasts of future Umno assemblies but also encourage other political parties and even parliament and state assemblies to do likewise. In the long run, only openness will act as a restraint on our words and deeds.

Our ethnic diversity is here to stay. Whether we build on it or destroy it, that depends entirely on us as only we alone can determine our destiny.