YOURSAY | “The minute citizens unite, politicians become insignificant.”

EmEmKay: Thank you, independent historian, Ranjit Singh Malhi, for writing this call for a united Malaysia - grounded in truth, history, and the need for mutual respect.

I especially appreciate your clear insistence on a fact that must not be erased: Orang Asli are the earliest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia, having lived on this land for tens of thousands of years.

Recognising their rightful place in our shared national story is essential to any meaningful unity.

You also highlight that centuries later, the Malays (early migrants) emerged as the definitive people of the peninsula, shaping Malaysia’s political institutions, cultural identity, and systems of governance through the enduring institution of sultanates.

This matters because unity cannot be built on selective memory - it must be built on what is historically accurate.

It must be acknowledged that Indian influence in Malaysia is profound and foundational, dating back over 2,000 years through trade and later migration.

Respecting this long, shared history strengthens rather than weakens national cohesion.

Lately, many pseudo-historians have presented fabricated, distorted, or cherry-picked claims as historical fact, often packaged in a “scholarly” format to shift the narrative away from established evidence and academic peer review.

Too often, these narratives rely on conspiracy theories or myth-making - not to illuminate the past, but to serve personal, political, or ideological agendas.

A united Malaysia requires more than slogans. It requires courage to tell the truth about our shared origins, and discipline to reject manufactured histories. Thank you for standing firmly for that standard.

Exile: Malaysia still lives inside categories it did not freely choose. Labels such as “Malay”, “Chinese”, “Indian”, and “Others” were hardened under the British colonial administration in Malaya to simplify governance, not to build a shared national identity.

Over time, these classifications took on a life of their own. What began as an administrative convenience became a political reality, shaping policy.

But identity alone is no longer the decisive force. The deeper fracture today is economic.

Inequality across regions, classes, and communities cuts through all categories and causes resentment to grow. Ethnic narratives become vehicles for expressing what are fundamentally material grievances.

If Malaysia is to move forward, it must shift from identity-based management to justice-based governance.

That means focusing on what citizens share, not how they are classified. Universal healthcare ensures no one is denied dignity in illness. Free or affordable education expands real opportunity.

Living wages restore the link between work and a decent life. These are not ideological luxuries; they are stabilising foundations.

The hard truth is this: a society that tolerates widening inequality cannot remain cohesive for long. Unity built on myth will fracture under economic strain.

Malaysians must demand policies that secure shared prosperity. Not as Malays, Chinese, or Indians - but as citizens insisting that the economy serves the many, not the few.

Mazhilamani: The problem that is common to our country is that we have short-sighted politicians, influenced and kept in check by race, religion, and party agenda.

We are yet to have national leaders who focus on the nation and people-building. None has a clear vision of what our country should look like in 30 or 50 years from now. Or its place among leading economies and a futuristic society.

The inward-looking policies can only fracture our people more. The best brains in our country must be brought together to chart a truly selfless national policy, without racist politicians.

If a neighbouring country across the causeway has already raced ahead by decades, we can do the same by the will of the people and visionary politicians.

One area that needs a drastic revamp must be our education system, especially history, where students must be taught the truth of their roots and the origin of our ancestors.

Our ancestors would never have thought they would be obliterated and replaced by a false generation.

The government must be bold enough to act and reject fairy tale historical narratives by certain professors and teach only the truth.

Why must Malaysians be made to feel different among themselves, especially the kids and young adults applying for places in higher learning institutions and jobs?

Chefoo: Well-articulated article, but whatever historical facts you painstakingly researched and wrote will remain academic only.

In fact, the current academic bunch has been manipulating the facts to glorify one race.

After almost seven decades of independence, Malaysians are still subjected to the divide-and-rule policy advocated by the colonials. Nothing has changed, and nothing will change as the top leaders have no political will to unite and see a united Malaysia.

All are concerned with their political survival, positions, and wealth accumulation. We thought some changes would happen with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, but sadly, he proved us wrong.

Bandit25: All Malaysians must only be known as Malaysians. There is no need for categories of races and religions.

When the government implements this, Malaysia can progress. We can only pray that day will come sooner rather than later.

Zaheed: The politicians in Malaysia will never fight for a united Malaysia. The minute citizens unite, politicians become insignificant.

Their relevance seems more important than the future of the nation. It’s a sad situation.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past 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.