I refer to the recent observation by the Conscience of Malaysia, MGG Pillai, in his article, [#1] Bloody early warning signal [/#] (March 12).

The term 'equal' is an adjective which is a Middle English term defined from the Latin word aequalis or of aequus level. The word dates back to the 14th century, before the Malacca Sultanate. The literal meaning of the word is of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another or to be equivalent like in quality, nature, or status for each member of a group, class, or society. An example of that would be to provide equal employment opportunities, education, health and housing regardless of race, colour and creed.

The underlying racial and ethnic current that divides the community in Malaysia is the result of an affirmative action policy that has run its course. Instead of raising the standards of the Malays, the government has lowered the bar to get volume into the various streams of government and industry. This policy has failed the Malay community as the subsidy culture (or the more favourable term, 'concession') has been ingrained into the mentality of the bumiputra entrepreneur.

However, "nothing sedates rationality like a large dose of effortless money" (Warren Buffett) and this has been clearly demonstrated by the spate of financial disasters that we have witnessed in the Malaysian corporate scene.

The level of political maturity in the country has also clearly deteriorated when one analyses the 'seditious' statement by the state assembly representative Norkhaila Jamaluddin ([#2] Taman Lindungan clash not racial, say police [/#], March 9). Obviously, it is a typical response of the current government's attitude towards minority issues.

As a state representative of the rakyat , her accusation that "the Indians have attacked us again and again" does nothing to show the local constituents (regardless of background) that she is impartial, fair and clearly elected by some of those "attacking Indians". If these people had a choice, they would not be living in the squalor prevalent in the neighbourhood nor committing crime to support themselves.

As much as the government tries to deny this fact, we have no unity in this country. It is a sad fact that quotas and ethnocentricity is the basis of all policies and commercial action. Malays hate Chinese, Chinese hate Malays and everyone hates the poor Indians.

It is also interesting that the Malays now claim that the social contract that exists between them and the non-Malays was created as a result of the citizenship debate prior to independence. The social contract was a result of the inter-racial riots of 1969.

If our forefathers had the foresight and the courage to speak out and resist the Constitutional amendments in 1969, maybe we would not be in the situation we find ourselves in today. Umno founder Onn Jafaar and People's Action Party founder member Lee Kuan Yew wanted a racially integrated Malaysia but the ultra Malay components of Umno at that time were opposed to it. Would history be different today if these two men had their way?

Our current leaders have done little to promote unity and despite all the 'apparent efforts', race is an issue and will be a part of our everyday lives. We allow ourselves to be petrified by the spectre of another 'May 1969 and continue to give up Constitutional rights in exchange for a smaller piece of the pie.

I have no words of wisdom to give or share. All I can say is that please heal the country. Malaysia has so much to offer and yet we allow these internal issues to mess up a potentially powerful regional force.