I like what former minister Rafidah Aziz said about playing “the race card" and “racialising” the country’s problems. We know what she said is nothing new but as a Malay leader, what she said carries weight and is more palatable particularly among the Malay masses. I think the timing of her reminder is most opportune given that the situation in the country is getting edgy.

Now, please don’t be too quick to judge me. I am not saying that Chinese Malaysians have no role to play in condemning racist card and racism. All I want is for Chinese Malaysians to play cool at least for the time being. Chinese Malaysians ought to be more careful and gentle with their comments. I am not saying who is right or who is wrong here. We just don’t want to end up with a situation that is not good for everyone.

We know the nation’s problems will affect everyone, not just one community or one section of the society. Massive corruption, squandering of national wealth, diminishing ringgit, economic slowdown, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and escalating cost of living will adversely affect everyone. In fact, they will affect the poorer and the marginalised groups even more.

The Chinese community, given their acumen, savings, skills and enterprise, would most probably be able to handle the storm better than others. Hence, while the community has every right to feel frustrated or to be concerned with the problems, I hope patience and consideration will prevail.

At this juncture of our history, it is not wise for Chinese Malaysians to play the frontline role doggedly. It would appear that Chinese are deliberately ‘creating’ or highlighting the problems against the government. Alternatively, it would appear that only the Chinese are affected by the problems in the country.

I want the Malay leaders from the opposition as well as from within Umno to take the lead to monitor, analyse and highlight the malfeasance and the problems confronting the country today. It is better for them to educate, inform and galvanise the Malay masses.

Let’s be realistic, I do not even want Ronnie Liu, the former Selangor state exco member from DAP, to make a police report against the red shirt demonstration. Malay leaders able to see the baloney and the danger of the red shirts should take the initiative to make the police report.

I am for Chinese Malaysians to be political aware but not to the extent of being overzealous and ‘noisy’. It does not matter what Malay racists do or say, Chinese Malaysians must not print ‘hell notes’, stomp the photos of Malay leaders, create racist jokes or make stupid comments in the social media on others. It is a game that Chinese Malaysians can’t win. Instead, it will only provide more ammunition for others to hurt them.

If Malay leaders can’t see the malaise inflicting this country today, I am afraid there is not much non-Malays leaders could do no matter how genuine or how hard they try. If Malay leaders can’t convince the Malay masses to see the bleak future awaiting this country if nothing is done, I guess this is the way going to be - they don’t care.

But we know Malays are the majority; they have always claimed that they have a bigger stake in this country. I guess at some point they must stand up and take notice.

While writing this piece, I take cognisance of the fact that many may condemn me for my race-centric myopic view on Malaysia. I wish, too, all of us could look at Malaysia, its problems, aspirations and future from a Malaysian perspective. But I want to be honest and realistic - multiracialism in this country is only skin deep.