COMMENT The twin scourges of the Malaysian polity – racial and religious exclusivism – that have infused policies which alienate, divide and drive Malaysians to find work abroad were broadsided yesterday.

First, John Malott, a former United States ambassador to Malaysia, criticised the Najib Razak administration for succumbing to right-wing pressure in not following through on its expressed goal of a new economic model for the country that would be "market friendly, merit-based, transparent and needs-based."

The second - not so much broadside as critique - was framed by Dr Mohamed Hashim Kamali, CEO of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (ISAS), who argued in an article that there are sound theological grounds to believe Islam is benign towards the issue of religious pluralism...