Malaysia is a peaceful, stable, prosperous and diverse country. This observation is often invoked but seldom examined. Malaysia is rightly credited in achieving successive years of economic growth espoused by political stability over almost five decades since its independence from Britain.

Take a list of macro-economic indicators and compare the performance of Malaysia to other Commonwealth countries in Africa or Asia since independence.

Malaysia is among the few countries that has done exceptionally well in terms of economic growth, physical infrastructure, investment in technology, attracting foreign investment, privatising formerly loss-making government enterprises, enthusing the spirit of industrialisation, manufacturing a national car and engendering a 'vision' of a developed country status by 2020. Credit must be extended to the Barisan Nasional government for its commitment to creating the climate of 'Malaysia Boleh'.

However, these achievements are not without fallibility. The successes of Malaysia must be scrutinised.

Often the harmonious diversity of races and religions in Malaysia is invoked to show-case its political stability and economic prosperity to the rest of the world, particularly to developing countries. Malaysia may deserve to do this, but not before exploring and reflecting on some deep-seated questions about itself. Malaysia's economic policies encapsulated in the New Economic Plan (NEP from 1971 to 1991) and various National Development Plans (NDP, 2nd to 8th) champions the classification of Malaysians into race to the exclusion of all other identities.