Azimi Daim's recent statement

that "Malays are masters of this land" is completely in line with the ethnic politicking and posturing in Malaysia especially from the 1960s to the 1980s. The objective of Malay hegemony - economic, cultural, political and religious domination - was expressed by more than o­ne Umno politician, and Azimi's statement surprises no o­ne.

In a divided multiethnic society such as Malaysia and elsewhere, the most certain route to electoral victory and thereby personal wealth, power and influence is via ethnic politicking. Language, culture, religious and racial issues all have the power to marginalise more vital issues such as the personal morality of our elected leaders, independence of our judiciary, public accountability, transparency, corruption, cronyism, nepotism, democracy and human rights.

In short, ethnic, communal, and racial politicking delivers electoral victory for our very privileged ethnic-based politicians, Malay and non-Malay alike, and is therefore here to stay, like it or not.

At any rate, most Malaysians have gotten used to these racist statements in the last five decades. After all, everyone understands that our local ethnic-based politicians must win in order to " cari makan ". Prestigious company directorships, state rents, lucrative government contracts, licences, concessions and business monopolies can o­nly come with electoral relevance. The price of having our society further polarised, and ethnic divisions substantially deepened by our ethnic politicians and their distasteful obscene rhetoric and activities is generally paid by everyone else, Malays and non-Malays alike. In short, ethnic-based politicians win, and the rest of Malaysian society suffers.

Rising fear and distrust make exclusionary and discriminatory policies and sloganeering popular worldwide. Whether it comes in the form of the 'White Australia Policy', '(Greater) Serbia for Serbs o­nly', 'Sinhala o­nly Movement' (Sri Lanka), 'No Jews in the Fatherland' or 'South African Apartheid', the values and ideologies expressed leave much to be desired.

The other all-time favourite ethnic rallying cry appears to be "Let's teach them a lesson" - whether by local Umno Youth politicians or overseas RSS-BJP activists.

Although Azimi would like to think he has massive support for his unfortunate statements, the average Malaysian is more likely to measure a man according to his conscience and morality o­n the o­ne hand, and o­n his determination, ability and performance o­n the other, rather than o­n the colour of his skin or the particularities of his religious and cultural practices.

The inexorable spread of universal ideals such as common decency, democracy, human rights, egalitarianism, achievement-oriented values and universal access to education have rapidly made obsolete ideologies of ethnic subordination elsewhere in the world, and it is o­nly a matter of time before Umno Youth has to come up with some newer ideas to make themselves more, and not less, relevant to Malaysian politics.

Last but not least, I strongly urge every malaysiakini reader to make a personal study of ethnic politics from the best academic texts available. Knowledge makes every citizen less vulnerable to the cynical manipulations and warped rhetoric of our ethnic-based politicians.

The most celebrated university text o­n the subject of ethnic politics, politicians and dynamics is Ethnic groups in conflict by Prof Donald Horowitz (California University Press).

Beg, borrow or steal this wonderful book but make sure you read it. Malaysia Boleh!