The controversy surrounding calls for amending Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution and the ensuing debate has only convinced me of the inability of our politicians and people to debate any issue that touches on race or religion in a detached, objective, impartial and rational manner without pandering to our petty prejudices and over-blown sensitivities.

Perhaps this is the result of decades of political conditioning by threats of intimidation and resorting to oppressive laws on sedition and internal security that has resulted in people not being able to conduct any debate in a civilized and restrained manner. A sad outcome indeed for civil society and our desire to achieve developed nation status by 2020 not only in terms of economic progress but also in terms of political and societal maturity.