I refer to the malaysiakini report Rumour strikes fear in Johor townships . I find it sad that as we celebrate 50 years of independence, race relations among the various communities in this country are still fragile. Rumour-mongers can be found in any society but a thinking society will first verify the truth about any news rather than believing what evil people tell them.

Malicious rumors in the past have caused our society to be divided along racial and religious lines with no end in sight. Our so-called 'unity in diversity' is suffering from fatigue and nowadays people are divided and don't mix with one another like before.

Political parties on both sides of the isle are both guilty for only championing their own race and making inflammatory speeches which can stoke the emotions of the people in this country. Every race seems to be living in their own cocoons and our schools, which should be the bedrock of national unity, are the opposite.

The people should see the big picture. Nobody gains from racial strife. Race and religion should not be used by political leaders to win votes. The May 13 incident and Kampung Medan riots should be wake up calls to the leaders of various race not to take the unity of our nation for granted.

Less corruption and a better distribution of the economic pie to all strata of society regardless of race will go a long way towards mitigating the people's perception that our leaders are not fair to all communities in this country.

The media should be free from the executive's shackles and be allowed to tell the truth about what is really happening in this country. This will prevent the people from believing in malicious gossips through SMSes or spread through third-party sources by those with the evil intent to see our society disintegrate through racial strife.

We may have achieved much after 50 years of being free from the colonial yoke what with the best infrastructure and buildings but our mindsets are still divided along racial lines. I wonder when Malaysians can be colour blind and treat all Malaysians regardless of creed and colour with the respect that is due to them.

Let us be 'merdeka' in the real sense of the word rather than listening to racial bigots whose political agenda is to divide rather than unite the people with their words and actions.