Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad lamented in his presidential speech that the 'Malay community' did not value the unity of the community.

He further cautioned them of the risk involved in believing that they're safe and secure when, he insisted, they aren't. He talked of possible 'dangers' to the community's well being, such as the non-Malays!

I believe that such talk can only come from a person and a political party who themselves are insecure, especially in the wake of the reformasi movement. Umno still feels unsafe when they know that there are now more Malays who are critical of them, and are willing to be independent and self-confident, and not be subjected to Umno's haranguing and patronising.

This is also the reason why Mahathir lambasted PAS (which has been able to attract more Malays recently) for having 'disunited' the Malay community.

While I do realise that this is the kind of political ideology (making the community feel insecure, and therefore wanting 'protection' from the party) that governs an ethnic-based party such as Umno, I regret that Mahathir, who is also the prime minister of multiethnic Malaysia, did not even flinch when he spoke in these racist terms.

Was the concept Bangsa Malaysia that he propounded a few years ago merely a political gimmick to woo the non-Malays?

Was it merely an exercise in futility? Is this what constitutes 'moving forward' especially in the face of globalisation?

If we are really serious about moving forward after more than 40 years of independence, then politicians and political parties concerned should be talking of uniting Malaysians around high principles of say, justice, honesty, fairness, compassion, etc — not primordial sentiments.

I believe that once we are guided by these principles, the approach we take regarding, for example, student intake in universities and education in general would be more ethical and less problematic.

This would be a more productive and positive endeavour.