All too often these days we hear of politicians reminding the rakyat of May 13. They keep harping on the need to be "race sensitive". All these misplaced "truths" must stop if we want to keep progressing and meet the challenges of the changing world order.

Malaysia is not the only nation in the world to have claim multiracialism. The global mass migration patterns these past 25 years, which has been gaining momentum recently, is giving rise to a multitude of races living in many countries. Hence, to keep saying that Malaysia is a unique country and there needs to be race sensitivity is akin to pitting people along the lines of differences rather than uniting them along the common philosophies of life.

To keep reminding the rakyat of May 13, is indirectly, instilling fears of hatred and bloody fights in the humble citizen. We must stop this too.

It is time politicians stop using third-rate tactics all the time. On the contrary, they should keep reminding the rakyat that May 13 is the irrelevant past and the future is about working together while fighting corruption without fear, favour or compromise. Further, it is the politicians' duty and its duly elected members who should work hard at bridging the gap instead of persistently terrifying people with memories of the past.

In actual fact, in markets and parks all over the country, the ordinary rakyat of various races have no problems mingling and working side by side. So why do politicians keep harping on racial divides? On the rakyat's level, nobody even remembers May 13. Even if they do, they acknowledge that it was a big mistake and should never happen again. So why do politicians keep reminding that it can come back?

All these tactics must stop and anyone who preaches these are doing a great disservice to nation building. On the contrary, there is more mileage in declaring that we must join hands in fighting corruption.