Be that as it may, racial politics is very much alive in the country despite it having achieved independence for 50 years. Malaysians are still racially and religiously obsessed. Partly, we should blame our education policy for this kind of fiasco to happen.

In most countries, the education policy is designed in such a way that it 'softens' people of various races and religions to form a nationality. In this respect, our education policy has not helped much in 'melting' the various races in the country. Malaysians are educated in different directions starting from the primary level and this has created citizens of varied identities and aspirations partly due to the national, vernacular and religious schools using different languages, visions and missions, as well as advocating different aspirations, for their disciples.

The national education philosophy - as drafted in the constitution - no doubt wants the national schools to gradually and ultimately become the definitive school - a unifying platform for all attracting Malaysians of all races to study and grow up with a single aspiration for unity and the creation of Malaysian nationality. Unfortunately, this has failed.

The national schools have long been hijacked by some overzealous prophets and have gradually been malformed to become more religious in nature. This has turned away children of other races. On top of that, there are also separation of examinations, schools and institutions for people of different ethnicity in the present education policy and this has failed to make people think that they are not different from one another.

Even some employment sectors in the country are race biased. After 50 years of independence, racial integration in the country is still superficial and to a certain extent it has become a farce. Malaysians are led to think in different directions. There has to be, therefore, a political will to change the whole set up of our education policies to bring awareness to all Malaysians that we are of one nationality.

Only then can we see a better Malaysia with its entire people living in peace and harmony irrespective of race, creed or religion, and exercising their fundamental rights in political elections without fear or favour.