COMMENT Like other friends of Malaysia overseas, I have followed the controversy over the use of the word ‘Allah’ with interest, but also with great concern. For I believe that this issue, if left unchecked, has the potential to tear Malaysia and the dream of ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ apart.

While there are racial and religious issues in every society, what makes the situation in Malaysia different is that it is the government that has condoned and even provoked these tensions for its own political purposes.

For years, Umno justified its existence by saying that the Malays are under threat, and that only Umno could defend "the Malay race".  

After the 13th general election, in which Umno candidates received only 30 percent of the national vote - and in which BN as a whole got only 47 percent - it had two choices. It could broaden its appeal or it could narrow it by trying to appeal to the PAS voter base, for whom religion rather than race is a more important concern.

Unfortunately, Umno chose the latter course and started to play the ‘Muslim’ card. Now, according to the government and Umno, it is not just Malays, it is also Islam that is under threat...