In 1991, then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad unveiled his Vision 2020 blueprint for the nation which aimed to create a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian Race), among others.

Rafidah Aziz, who served as a minister in his cabinet for more than two decades, recalled how this vision encompassed the diverse racial and hereditary origins of all Malaysians.

“It is already 2024. Let us all continue to...