COMMENT | Academic Tajuddin Rasdi recently argued that a significant segment of the Malay community may be resistant to fundamental change in respect of identity - their own, as well as their view of the Chinese and Indians.

In a provocative analysis published in Free Malaysia Today, he said the Malays see themselves as the bumiputera - the original people of this land - and regard non-Malays as pendatang (immigrants).

This worldview, he suggests, justifies privileges as permanent entitlements. He further warns that Malay-based parties may seek to use Islam to unite Malays in defence of these privileges.

With the civil service, police, and armed forces predominantly Malay, Tajuddin suggests that state power will likely continue to serve Malay and Muslim interests first.