An MCA leader chose to tread along a dangerous path, which is often avoided due to fear of repercussions and reprisals.

In a hard-hitting media statement, Ti Lian Ker blamed the federal constitution for accentuating the inherent racism in Malaysia due to its provisions for race and religion.

He said the situation was made worse by institutions and administrations that were tainted with racial and religious sentiments.

“If the nation is serious about overcoming racism, we need to educate our people on the negativity of racism and come a day when we are there - a matured and democratic nation - we can consider amending or ratifying our constitution to free ourselves of racism,” he said.

In the meantime, he added that the race-based component parties which tried hard to glue this diverse nation would have to take the blame for the racism in the system.

The MCA central committee member, who also spearheads the party’s religious harmony bureau, was responding to National Civics Bureau (BTN) chief Ibrahim Saad, who told a forum yesterday that racism in Malaysia peaks during election season when sensitive issues are exploited.

In his analysis, Ti cited the inability of BN and its leaders to adjust or devise a mechanism to contain or water down such issues that has resulted in a public perception that the ruling coalition is responsible and has failed in tackling racial and religious extremism.

Exacerbating the matter, he added, were high-ranking leaders who made "foot in mouth" statements to such isolated incidences or statements.

Ti also disagreed with Ibrahim’s argument that racism now is not as severe compared to the 1970s and 1980S.

Calling it a flawed contention, the MCA leader said: “On the contrary, I would like to poke fun at that argument by saying we are more racially charged today as the minorities, that is, the Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Christians, Hindu etc are more ready and courageous to challenge or call into question any injustices or discriminatory statements or actions unlike in the 1970s whereby everyone were only mindful of Malay and Muslim dominance and sensitivities.”

Ti said the blame for racism in Malaysia should not be solely placed on politicians or communal parties in the ruling coalition.

“Historically, we built bridges and inter-racial goodwill by virtue of our co-operation, understanding and compromises.

“Unfortunately, the Alliance and subsequent BN success story of building cooperation, mutual respect and harmony were not highlighted or given due recognition and acknowledgements,” he pointed out.

He said this failure to educate the nation coupled with a freer media allowing individual statements or incidences laced with racial or religious taunts to find prominence have led to a downward spiral.

“Some of these incidences and individual statements that are not representative of the party have been intentionally used, spread and made viral by forces out to destroy the racial and religious goodwill built over the years.

“BN component parties have walked a tightrope of inter-racial and inter-religious conflicts.

“However, through the wisdom of our founding leaders Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Cheng Lock and VT Sambanthan, the nation was able to progress and live harmoniously despite a historical background of racial conflicts under the colonial divide and rule policy,” he added.