Umar Mukhtar's and Pelita Negara's dialogue gives hope to a Malaysia that is moving towards healing and understanding between the races. Barisan Nasional's model of divide and rule over the last 40 odd years sweeps ill-feelings under the carpet. We pretend that as long as we don't speak o­n sensitive issues, we can live in peace.

Forty years have passed and we o­nly see greater polarisation between the groups. I am in my mid-30's and I can already sense that my children are less exposed to other races then when I was as a child. This is very sad.

I was too young to know what May 13 was all about. I grew up believing that it was a racial issue. It has always been used as a threat over our heads. It took a Malay gentleman to explain what really happened o­n May 13, 1969, and the power struggle that existed in the ruling coalition at that time.

This event was in essence the birthplace of Malaysia's racial politics. Healing can take place when we are allowed to engage and dialogue o­n our nation's history. Some however find this threatening and will use laws and authoritarian methods to prevent such from happening.