COMMENT | The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) situation, with many Malays threatening violence because they will lose their so-called “special privileges”, should be handled as one would a spoilt child.

The spoilt child thinks he is special and has more rights than others, refuses to share his toys, refuses to say “please” and “thank you” and in short, refuses to behave. Understandably, he will refuse to give up what he thinks is rightfully his.

Why should the pampered Malay be placed on a pedestal and be the centre of Putrajaya’s Malay-centric life? We will know who to blame, when in a few years time, we see more anti-social behaviour, bad manners, selfish demands and many Malays with an over-inflated ego. Yes. Pakatan Harapan.

The Harapan administration missed its golden opportunity to yank the pampered Malay back into 21st-century Malaysia. Instead, it fell victim to threats and a coordinated movement to incite violence in each state. One does not allow a bully to climb over one’s head. One should act with firmness to counter the intimidation.

Umno-Baru’s nefarious project has been continued by Harapan. It has created an entire generation of selfish “little emperors” who cannot function in the real world. Harapan had the power to stop Malay arrogance, but for political expediency, decided to create more mini gods.

Like responsible parents, Harapan’s objectives should have been to help Malaysians feel safe, able to cope as functioning adults in an increasingly fractured world and be happy; but with the rise of the Malay nationalists and Islamic fundamentalism, we have to watch what we say, and act as if we are treading on eggshells...