The Chinese first came to Malaysia around 1400s. These were mostly traders or who settled mainly in Melaka, at that time a major trading centre in this part of the world.

It was not only until about 150 years ago, in mid-1800s, that Malaya first saw a major influx of Chinese. These were migrants from Southern China who came to work in the rich tin fields that had just been opened up 20 years before that. This mass migration went on until 1930 when the British suddenly closed Malaya's door. But by then, almost 30 percent of Malaya's population was already Chinese, a shift in racial balance that took only 80 years to achieve.

In a mere 80 years, the Malays, who had been the masters of this land for centuries, were rapidly "diluted" through the effort of the British. The Indians did not come until early 1900s. These were mostly Tamil from Southern India working in the rubber plantations. Within 40 years, when the immigration policy changed and Indians were no longer allowed to migrate to Malaya, the Indians had made up 10 percent of the country's population. This further eroded the Malay "majority" down to almost half the country's population.

But the Malays did not mind. Whether they were 50 percent or 100 percent of the population, what did it matter? The Malays were happy tilling their fields and going out to sea to continue their traditional livelihood which their fathers, and their fathers' fathers before that had been doing for as long as they could remember. The Malays had no desire to work in the tin mines and rubber estates. The work was hard, conditions were bad, and salaries were a pittance. In comparison, the Malays were better off doing what they were always doing.

Then came the Japanese occupation which brought with it hardship. But the Malays survived -especially those living in the kampung . Then, immediately after the war, came education for the Malays - the first time the Malays were able to set foot on British soil. The result of this education was that the Malays started to think. And they thought of independence from the British. After all, the Japanese had taught the Malays that the British could be defeated.

But the Malays, on their own, could not achieve Merdeka . The British would not grant Malaya independence unless the issue of what to do with the Chinese and Indians was addressed. The Chinese and Indians were not citizens of Malaya, yet many were born in the country and there was no way the British could send them "home" to China or India. So the Malays cooperated with the Chinese and Indians and jointly, all the races sought and gained independence from the British. It was a marriage of convenience, not a marriage born out of love.

Then, Malaya which later became Malaysia, saw an era of prosperity. Umno, which had "fought" for the Malays way before Merdeka , continued to fight for the Malays long after. But the British had gone home. The British were no longer the enemy. Who was this new enemy? Who was Umno fighting against? Umno never identifies this "enemy" but continued their perjuangan in defence of Malays rights and privileges.

MCA did the same for the Chinese, as did MIC for the Indians. Basically the three partners -Umno, MCA and MIC - all used the same political platform-defenders of their respective races. But whom were they being defended against? Twelve years into Merdeka and the Malays saw that they only had a miserable 3 percent of the economic "cake". The Chinese, who had only been around slightly over 100 years, owned 25 percent of the nation's wealth. The Indians quietly "enjoyed" their 1 percent without protest. What can a minority group say anyway?

So the Malays realised then who this "enemy" that the Umno leaders had been talking about these years was. It dawned on them why Umno was necessary. They knew why the party leaders had been saying all this while that only Umno can protect the Malay rights and privileges.

Protect what rights and privileges? Their "rightful" share of the economic cake, of course. And against whom? Against those who have robbed them of these rights and privileges - against those who now have the largest share of the economic cake in short period of time.

Instead of exploring ways of elevating the economic level of the Malays, they went around telling Malays to beware of the "enemy" and let Umno protect them from this enemy.

In all the years that Umno had been in existence, their leaders never really propagated the concept of multiracialism. They may talk about it. But in the same breath they caution the Malays to beware of their "enemies".

Barisan Nasional is not a multiracial party. It is just a coalition of many racial-based parties. Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and all the other parties in the coalition still function as Malay, Chinese, or Indian dominated parties. The only party in BN close to a multiracial party was Gerakan. But it too quickly evolved into a Chinese-based party.

Malaysia can never achieve racial integration as long as BN is still in power. At least PAS, which may be an Islamic party, is open to all races. DAP is the same. And so is Parti Keadilan Nasional and PRM. If Malaysians really want to see genuine racial integration, they will have to re-think their party loyalties.

But of course, if they would see the tallest building, the longest bridge, the most glamorous games, the biggest debts, but continued polarisation among the races, then keep the present government in power.