The semantic juxtaposition of the ‘Malaysian Malaysia', ‘Bangsa Malaysia' and the recent ‘1Malaysia' have been either naively or cynically consumed by Malaysians as a noble call for a Malaysian identity preceding race, creed, physical appearances and religion.

Advocated by the current prime minister, ‘1Malaysia' has been conspicuously reiterated through the mainstream tabloids, television, radio and New Age media.

While most communications and advertising inter alia will agree that through repetition of the message via jingles, visual depiction and continuous reproduction of the same message, the end users will finally buy the idea.

Nevertheless, the core product has to be of quality, satisfying the needs of consumers for repeat purchases and believe in the product itself.

As a product of the Bangsa Malaysia epoch, race, creed and religion was never part of my childhood except during Moral/Islamic studies during my rudimentary years as an adolescent. The dichotomous, however, was drawn upon my ‘other Malaysian' friends after secondary school education.

Most of the Malays were accepted for matriculation and a fair amount were then accepted into the public universities while still other students were sent abroad on various scholarships at the disposal of GLCs, government bodies and some even on G2G scholarships.

The Chinese students either pursued their A-Levels or first year studies here in Malaysia and later pursued their studies abroad or obtained degrees from the TAR College or local public and private universities here in Malaysia.

The Indians predominantly embarked on their Form Six studies here but hopes and aspirations were quickly shuttered due to the scarcity of scholarships and places in the local universities for them. Others got too engaged with the vicious cycle of working life, while many had to work and study through adulthood.

After being accepted at a reputable university in the UK to do my PhD on Malaysian politics, I decided to write a humble letter to the prime minister at his official address applying for a scholarship. Only to be enlightened by the special officer at the prime minister's office that it has been passed on to the Public Services Department (PSD).

Attempts to make an official visit to the Indian component political party leader on the same matter had been to no avail. After numerous calls to the PSD, I have been given a decree that I either have to be a civil servant (the majority of whom are Malays) or apply for a scholarship from the University of Warwick itself.

This same official alluded that many ‘others' attempted for scholarships and were not successful. Yet again, the government has marginalised the ‘others' at almost every level of our adulthood. I wonder now, that on the next polling day, who will the electorate vote for.

Indeed, the ideology of a ‘1Malaysia' may suggest an Utopia here in this multi-ethnic and multi- cultural nation. An amalgamation of advocacy and implementation would definitely commemorate laudable appreciation at the grassroots levels.

However, at the grassroots level, there seem to be much of only a ‘buzz affect' but no realism attached to the promulgation of a ‘1Malaysia'. Precarious as it may seem, but it is the grassroots suffrage that decides who would be the next movers and shakers of the country.

With the rise of bourgeois Malaysians, the electorate definitely is not as docile as seen in recent elections. While the promulgation of a ‘1Malaysia' and its ideology seem irresistible to all Malaysians, in reality most ‘other Malaysians' have yet to feel the impact of such policies at the grassroots levels.

The exclusive government rather than its inclusiveness seems to prevail gauging from the availability of opportunities and resources.

Insinuation of an inclusive nation have to be explicitly expressed through the number of students being accepted in local universities and the scholarships and resources that the government is willing provide for the progress of a truly ‘1Malaysia' for All Malaysians.