COMMENT | Malaysia has always been proud of its diversity, with the Malays playing a key role in keeping the country peaceful and united. Since independence, tolerance has been a foundation of national policies, ensuring that people of all backgrounds can coexist.

However, over time, an important question has emerged - has this tolerance remained a genuine commitment to unity, or has it slowly become a quiet surrender of identity, rights, and influence?

For decades, tolerance has been seen as a noble virtue, one that protects Malaysia’s multiracial harmony. But is it still an active choice, or has it become a passive concession?

The Malays, once the pillar of national identity, now find themselves...