OCT 7 — Judging from the recent events taking place in our country today  it’s not difficult to conclude that race relations in our country must be at its very lowest ebb.

It comes at the heels when we moan the loss of one of Malaysia’s favorite son who spend his entire life fighting for the country he loved and called it home. 

Distinguished ex-police officer Tan Sri Yuen Yuet Leng was one such man who in his latter years found it extremely painful that all what he and his colleagues had built disintegrating before his very eyes.

That those who shed their blood and helped make this a great country are now referred quite freely as ‘pendatang’ and even told that they should go back to their countries of ‘origin’  if they are not happy here .

One deputy minister so caught up on the Petaling Street incident even threatened to ‘slap’ the Chinese Malaysians if they took their grouses outside the country to their so called ‘godfather’  from China.

The threat  was such that even without the actual act taking place the crack and the echo of the word  ‘lempang’ (slap ) has reached the far corners of the entire country causing much ire among the Chinese population. 

Our politicians need to be reminded that the hallmark of a good leader is one who is well disciplined, would not be easily ruffled and would not say something so racially charged and hurtful that it can break race relations all  because one is temporary upset.  

I still remember our  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who some years back during his visit to Chennai, India saying “ It is was important to recognize all those who contributed to nation-building, irrespective of their ethnic background”

For the majority of non Malays, who have long being citizens of this country especially those born after Merdeka, this is the only country they know as ‘Tanah tumpahnya darah ku’.

They are not citizens of China or India and cannot ‘pergi balik India’ or ‘pergi balik China’.

They  are all Malaysians and like us and this is their only country they have and which they now call home. The Chinese  have always proved that they are loyal and responsible citizens of this country.

During the Emergency our police force  had one of the best Special Branch in the world then manned by 90 per cent Chinese officers.

It was the Special Branch that helped break the back of the communist terrorists, and contributed in no small way to  make this country a safe and secure place to live. A place where all, irrespective of race and religion can work, raise their families and share the bounties of this country fairly and proportionally. Although more can be done in the equal distribution of wealth. 

I would like to commend the Conference of Rulers who have timely intervened to remind politicians and NGOs not to stoke racial and religious tension to garner support. The Bersih 4 yellow shirt  rally and the counter rally by the red shirts had all  added fuel to the fire where racial slurs were openly hurled at each other.

Perhaps we need to have a rethink if these rallies do serve any useful purpose at all. In the meantime let all the ‘warring’ parties each take a step back from the brink mull over the advise by the rulers and decide if all this worth it and at what expense? 

With the reminder that this country does not belong to politicians, it belongs to the Rakyat. 

 * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.