I refer to the Malaysiakini article 'Jus soli' vs 'jus sanguinis'

While I do not totally agree with Muhammad Faisal's conclusions in his article, I very much agree on his point that it is high time our leaders adopted a more solution-focused approach to the problem at hand.

The problem has just been reiterated over and over again, sent back and forth, and frankly, it's reached quite an annoying stage of conflict.

Sadly, however, I cannot see a solution-focused approach to this problem on the horizon, because there is a denial of what the problem is in the first place.

We could do the research into the constitution and the history books, or even consult sociologists and anthropologists to understand better the shaping of the social contract in Malaysia, but the problem would still be ignored, which would result in continued conflict.

Let me define what I perceive the 'problem' as: Ahmad Ismail's statements have made Malaysian Chinese feel like second-class citizens. There, I said it. I know people will disagree and say he probably did not intend to.

But rational thought and a little psychology has granted me this small insight - I think that this is the damage that he has caused (in a very small nutshell).

And I think that proponents of Ahmad’s statements, who either use the 'right to freedom and expression' card or 'but that's what history teaches us' card have lost the plot, because they fail to understand that being referred to as a second-class citizen hurts. It is painful.

One especially feels it when one is patriotic and proud of their country. Indeed, that Chinese leaders are not willing to tolerate such rhetoric is a sign of their pride - their pride of the right to call themselves Malaysian.

If Ahmad is thinking something along the lines of "Well, people shouldn't be so sensitive" as a defence, then he does indeed have a point. If people were not sensitive to these transgressions, there would not really be a problem. But if people were like that, they would not be human anymore either.

People do not like being labelled negatively. They don't like being treated unfairly either. The social contract and constitution are really irrelevant here - I am not talking about legal or historical rights, but about human emotions.

That is what is at the core of this issue. That is why he should apologise - because he has hurt people's feelings.

Though, not everyone who is calling for Ahmad to apologise are following this rationale, as there are undeniably political factors involved too. Should he apologise, would it be accepted?

Do remember that a precedent of not accepting racially-charged apologies has been set before. Also, his popularity, support and political future would be affected too. Can he truly afford an admission of guilt and remorse at this stage? A bigger man certainly could.

Either way something needs to be done. I wish I knew exactly what. Though I will say that Ahmad’s remarks, though his own, are born out of a culture that espouses them. The fact that race is a matter that is still dragged into political rallies is a reflection of the divide and rule policies we have inherited from the British.

They also reflect the big picture ideology that BN is shouting out: "Look out for your own race!" If anything, Ahmad Ismail was following his party's policies quite accurately. Though we, as outsiders, clearly find fault with him, is it any wonder why, then, Umno brass have been so hesitant in dealing with it?

Because if they do, they'll have to face further questions of "but haven't you guys been doing the same thing for years?". They would then set a precedent for unacceptable behavior in the future - behaviours that have been going on for a long time in Umno.

So perhaps the whole apology thing might never happen - there's so much pressure to just not to. But that's politics, isn't it? And politics is a very human thing. But as this episode shows, while it is a very human thing, it's sometimes not very humane.

Race-based politics in Malaysia are an out-dated concept. We, the rakyat, woke up to this fact long before BN-Umno and its component parties.