Can anyone blame the cynical among us who think that the current "tension" is orchestrated by the ruling powers-that-be to shore up their perceived (and perhaps all too real) erosion of support among the Malay electorate?

But it is all too heartening to hear the voice of reason and calm that appears in forums like malaysiakini (which are not reported in the mainstream media) from Malaysians of Malay origin, who can see through the mud stirred up by those with ulterior motives, and are willing to come out and speak what is fair and true.

It is without doubt that many of the requests will take years to become reality (perhaps not within the lifetimes of some of us here today). But this is no cause for gloom if one were to look at the history of the modern world's beacon of freedom and democracy, the US - until the 1960s, racial discrimination was still widespread, even almost 200 years after its declaration of independence.

What is necessary is for those in a position of power and public office not to twist what should be seen as normal aspirations of fellow citizens for a more just and equitable order of things (and which some have pointed out may be too far ahead of their time) into their perverted political agenda and in the process may unleash forces that they may not be able to be contained later.