YOURSAY l ‘We’re all proud of our race, but we’re not racist. That’s the difference.’

Annuar Musa: I was showing love for my race, not racism

SteveOh: There is nothing wrong in being proud of your race, whatever it is, as long as you don't use race as an excuse to create trouble.

There are many people who are proud of their race and still learn to respect others from a different race, and they do not count race as an important factor in all they do and who they choose for a friendk, and do not practise racial discrimination.

A racist however will make a song and dance about his race and create trouble and disunity on racial grounds.

A racist usually is someone of unsound mind because being a member of a race is not a personal achievement to be proud of. One did not choose one's race or parents.

The racist has not achieved emotional and intellectual maturity and does not realise that being a human being in a world of ethnic diversity is important for world and communal peace.

Those who are proud of their race and incite racial hatred are losers. In Malaysia, race is used to divide and rule and the red shirts rally is a typical example.

BTN: Umno supreme council member Annuar Musa, loving your race does not make you a racist.

What makes you a racist is when you look into people with different colour or religion with contempt or hatred, especially when you are in power and your race make up the majority of the population.

There is no honour - or in Malay it's called ‘maruah’ - when you instill fear or hurt on the minority via your sheer numbers. How are students in Mara going to come out to the world with people like you as leaders?

Umno could have been a party that will govern this country for many more years if only they can produce leaders who is a Malaysian in heart and spirit.

Nothing will change the colour of our skin but we can make this country for all Malaysians as its our choice.

Prudent: Annuar 'loves' his 'race'? It’s not a problem, but he was speaking at a rally devoted to 'defend' Malay 'dignity', which was alleged to have been offended by some non-Malays stomping on pictures of Malay leaders.

First of all, the racist reaction to the picture stomping is out of proportion to the perceived 'insult' - sane people would normally brush off as a non-event.

Secondly, Annuar had mistaken 'love' for his race for hatred of other races deemed as a threat to his 'race'.

That he 'loves' his 'race' to the extent of hating other races indicates a depraved mentality that is constantly nursing an 'us versus them' attitude, i.e. a seige mentality.

Kingfisher: As head of a prestigious institution (Mara), many would have wished that you should have kept your racial opinions to yourself or within the confines of those of "your" sentiments.

This is a multiracial country and the government that pays your salary is representative of it. Indiscretions from leaders such as you in alpha leadership role for a specific community should not be dismissed as it has dangerous multiplier potential for the rank and file, ultimately tearing the very fabric of a peaceful nation.

Why can’t the likes of you have a little sensitivity and appreciation for history instead of beating your chest with ignorant impunity?

Vent: Annuar, you are clearly defending the indefensible. Perhaps you are also too intellectually challenged to understand that you are a racist by any account.

But you understand quite clearly that you have to sing to your master's tune if there is any hope of you ever getting another Umno post with all its filthy perks and privileges.

Anonymous 122461436161429: We are all proud of our race, but we are not racist. That’s the difference.

The non-Malays don't call other races names in public and threaten to shed their blood for some perceived insult to their race.

Not Smart: Annuar, nobody is questioning you for "merely expressing for love your race" as it is normal.

You don't seem to understand that the issue is that as an officer of the government you should not be showing your hatred towards other races openly although you may have the right to hate them.

What you did tantamount to instigating and humiliating other races.

Kalvin Rekhraj: Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. had said, "O people, know that the Lord and Sustainer is One. Your ancestor is one, your faith is one. The Arabism of anyone of you is not from your mother or father. It is no more than a tongue (language). Whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab."

If put into practice in Malaysia, all of whom that speaks Bahasa Malaysia is a Malay because He was talking about a race.

Islam, however, limits the purpose of those distinctions to differentiation and knowing each other. This is not meant to be a source of beating each other down with an attitude of ‘my group is better than your group' or false pride as is the case with tribalism, nationalism, colonialism and racism.

Therefore for a mere man to quote Islam as a point of reference to support racism has to be reprimanded. Then again in Malaysia, these kind of words might be applauded.

Turvy: Don't boast. Its untypical of your race and goes against the grain of its dignity. The fall will be harder to take.

There are some things over which you may have command, but that does not include telling a university how to decide its policies or businessmen how to run their businesses.

You put on an air of confidence only to conceal your inherent lack of reason and education. In times like this, statesmen are required to put the nation ahead of their personal prejudices, but you are obviously no statesman.

CHKS: Actually it is Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who should not make an issue of it.

Taylor's, as a private education institution, has every right to terminate any contract with companies that are seen to be associated with racism, including siding with the Chinese, Indians, and so on.

You would have done the same if a government bus is used to ferry people to a gathering or racist Chinese or Indians. Not only that, if that happens, you would have made a big fuss and organsie another rally to protest against it.

Milosevic: Maybe the police should use their vehicles to moonlight as taxi drivers. After all, ferrying people to their destinations is not illegal.

And I am sure the police will do it safely. The payment made to them would be for once legitimate.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.