Racial integration has very little to do with national unity. The former is never an end. In fact, if it is an objective in itself, it is an unachievable objective. It is a politician's concoction of a means purportedly towards achieving national unity.

And that's where the murkiness starts, and one begins to miss the trees for the forest; and the politicians rule supreme.

I am Malaysian. I am Malay. And I am a Muslim. I don't give two hoots if the next guy eats, dresses, prays like me or has the same type of name as mine. But I do care that I am treated fairly; institutionally or otherwise, by the powerful; by law or by practice. Discrimination occurs anytime, blatantly or in a subtle manner, and all factions are guilty of it at one time or another.

It is a human condition. One tries to rise above it. It is a measure of the person. The genuine urge to overcome racial prejudices comes from within. One resorts to some form of spiritual enlightenment to see the trees and the forest. All other avenues are just manipulative and opportunists' tool for political enslavement.

National unity is a superfluous condition dreamed up by so-called nationalistic leaders to justify certain measures, mostly, self-serving. Unity against what? When things are fine, there's always togetherness. It comes naturally.

The trick is how to make things fine. Most don't have the answer. And I doubt very much if a regime that gets to be up there by highlighting the differences between the races would qualify to carry the banner of national unity through racial integration.

Or to put it closer to human values, a government that is are unable treat any individual with the minimum standards of human dignity does not deserve my time of day as far as national unity is concerned. Start by treating your own citizens with respect. Start by abolishing the Internal Security Act.