MAY 24 — The suggestion by Amanah vice-president Muhajid Yusof Rawa to do away with race- and religion-based politics is most welcome.  

In my mind though, this is something that should have happened a long time ago and not only be a suggestion almost 60 years after Merdeka.  

Truth be told, Datuk Onn Jaafar was a leader ahead of his time.  He was brave enough to form the Independence of Malaya Party back in 1951, a party that was neither race- nor religion-based.  

How different would our country be if this political party had succeeded?

Religious- and race-based politics have no place in a multicultural country such as ours for when we have political parties championing the “rights” of a particular race or religion, we only serve to segregate rather than unite.  

We forget about being Malaysian and rather retreat into our own ethnic shells. We tend to forget the Malaysian that encompasses every race and religion.

The mainstream political parties todayespouse the notion that they are fighting for their respective ethnicities and/or religions.  

We are told that without race-based parties, there would be a lack of unity and equality. Or are these political parties perhaps using race and religion for their own survival instead?

Quite honestly, is there really a need to champion Malay rights, Chinese rights and Indian rights?  What then about Kadazan rights, Bidayuh rights, Iban rights and so on.  

It gets quite absurd when you think about it. It would be far, far easier to simply champion Malaysian rights.

The rights of each and every rakyat.  

Rather than race and religion, politics should be focused on issues affecting the country. 

Issues like how to improve the economy; reducing and abolishing corruption; improving safety and security; improving education; improving sports; improving public infrastructure.  

These are just some of the things that are needed to improve the country and to ease the burden on the rakyat.

Religion is really a personal matter and should be left up to the individual.

Not a political party. 

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