INTERVIEW Despite retaining his belief that the general Malaysian public is not buying into the ramped up racial tone in the national political discourse, author and former navy commander S Thayaparan believes that even a small pocket of people inciting trouble can cause an ugly flare-up.

The retired Royal Malaysian Navy commander - who has also been an active writer with strong views on politics and community over the past three years - warned that a group, however small, can "cause very serious problems in the country".

"A small group of desperate men can still cause some very serious problems in the country - especially in Selangor and Penang," he told Malaysiakini in a recent interview.

"I don't think the public is buying into this now, but still, this could flare up into something ugly," he said.

Thayaparan, who has worked with United Nations agencies, said that if the federal government continues in its current vein, “Balkanisation (fragmentation of the state)” is possible with Sabah and Sarawak.

"I think there has been improvement after the elections. I still have great hope for this country, there are many people who are full of enthusiasm," he noted.

"But I would say this now, if the government continues in this vein of acting with impunity, we might be going down the path of Balkanisation."

Secularism the solution

For Thayaparan, who has just recently finished authoring his first book, the best solution to preserving Malaysia's racial fabric is to embrace a secular state.

"The answer is simple - secularism. But right now, it is with religion that you control the people, be it by a church or a mosque," he added.

Thayaparan's book, ‘No Country for Righteous Men and Other Essays in a Culture of Offendedness’, is a compilation of various articles that he  contributed to Malaysiakini.

The topics range from the government and politics, to the Hindraf movement and its leaders.

"This is my first and only book, and I hope to get good support for it. I chose this title because right now, we Malaysians seem to be offended by almost anything and everything," he said.

Published by Gerak Budaya, the 383-page book will be launched at 4pm tomorrow, at the Royal Lake Club.