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President Barack Obama, the man of hope, admits the hope he is promoting is clouded by the looming political and economic crisis in the US and globally. His inaugural speech is full of cautions. He fully understands what lies ahead of him - emerging new challenges and old ones turning worse.

As the most powerful leader in the world, Obama is fully aware of the limitation of one man. In his speech, he rallied the people with him.

At this moment, Malaysia faces the same daunting challenges of an economic meltdown, difficult race relations and broken politics. This is the moment we ask for politicians to show us leadership - not just patronage. Show us a solution, not just spew rhetoric.

We should not merely focus on competitive and electoral politics. What is the point if elections create winners but the people remain losers? Fixation over electoral politics alone create divisions and conflict. Our politicians should know when the campaigns must stop and work must begin.

Our understanding of race relations, unity and nation-building should undergo some serious refining.

Our lack of mutual understanding was exposed in the recent discourse on religion. Muslims in this country should take cognisance of the need to reach out and share their thoughts with others. Years of seeking exclusivity, through some irresponsible religious politicking, has created a gap between Muslims and non-Muslims in this country. The image of Islam is battered because it was not kept away from politics. It is still not too late to do so.

We remain disintegrated because of our growing misunderstanding and not due to our mutual dislike or hatred. Religious zealots who hijacked our religion and turned it into a propaganda tool to serve their own interests want to keep the right to interpret scriptures solely in their domain. Religious studies should liberate our mind and soul - not seek to entrap it.

How many who reacted against hudud or Islam truly understand the religion? How many who wanted temples to be demolished truly understand their significance? How many who wanted to seek exclusivity of their beliefs truly understand the role played by other beliefs which promote the same kind of goodness?

The sluggishness of our economy is not solely the doing of the global economic crisis. It is partly of our of our own doing. It is hard to imagine which government in the world would create so many barriers to promote its own domestic economy. The government’s insistence of continuing with the blemish and tainted New Economy Policy does not help the situation.

It is illogical to hold back someone to allow another to prosper. With an interconnected world, an investment or talent not welcomed in a country will be lured with a red carpet by another.

This type of a myopic policy must end. Towards this, the government must do more to correct Malaysia's perception among ex-Malaysians and those currently living abroad. If not, when the global economic crisis settles, more will make a beeline to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

Without the right local talents, Malaysia will continue its dependence on cheap and low-skilled foreign labour and depend on its diminishing natural resources.

The blame game on education must stop. Those who claim that vernacular schools were the main cause of national disunity do not read the right history books. Parents who choose the right school for the children are practical. They seek quality education and a conducive environment. Drastic policy changes in the education system were the main contributing factor to the rise of vernacular schools in the country.

Before 1970, English medium schools dominated students' enrolment. The perceived lack of a competitive environment, inept teachers and other socio-religious factors over the years have pushed parents (even non-Chinese educated ones) to enrol their children in Chinese vernacular schools.

Education is regulated by the federal government. The inability of this country to create a universal, competent and quality national education system is a failure of the federal government. After 1970, the focus on the education system was on the language of instruction and not the content quality of its curriculum.

Today, we are still debating over the use of English to teach both the subjects of mathematics and science in all primary schools.

Until some sense is knocked into the heads of our policy-makers, our economic development will not be sustainable. Our ambition to create a knowledge-economy will remain a pipe dream. Malaysia will remain a feudal society where good education opportunities - mainly abroad - are open to only the rich and the connected.

After more than 50 years, Malaysia is still divided by a race barrier erected by our political masters. We are still carrying the burden of our race relations. Race-based political parties are still firmly in power.

Ironically, as these politicians mouth the sugar-coated slogans of ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ and ‘national unity’, we are being told to respect and accept the flimsy notion of race superiority. Yet, these politicians are quick to come to the defence of other oppressed minorities elsewhere.

Obama's caution is timely for he told these leaders to be mindful that they will be judged by their people for what they can build and not destroy.

If there is anything we can take away from the US presidential election is that a society which is quick to embrace its minorities will be bestowed with their talents, cultural richness and diversity which can only make the country more successful.

If 60 years ago the American leaders decided to preserve and protect their status quo, they would have missed a chance to elect an inspiring leader such as Barack Hussein Obama and the world would not have had the chance to be inspired by his politics of hope.

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