///It is precisely because Malaysia has evolved in the past 53 years to become a more united multi-racial Malaysian nation that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had come out with his signature theme and campaign of 1Malaysia, where everyone regards of himself or herself as Malaysian first and ethnicity, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban second./// – YB Kit

Have we “become a more united multi-racial Malaysian nation” since 53 years ago? Many of those who have lived and seen Independence to the 1970s may find this assessment contentious. Especially after May 13 1969, Tun Dr Mahathir’s long 22 year administration with rise of Ketuanan ideology, proliferation/expansion of the NEP and growing Islamisation.

Before the 1980s where did anyone hear of “Pendatang” in political lexicon, “Allah” cannot be used in Bahasa in churches or groups like PERKASA???? The races then sat together in common activities with less consciousness of their communal and cultural separateness.

The statement criticising Muhyiddin to having remained “unchanged even in the year 2010, while the country has undergone over five decades of nation-building” – that ultra-ism has less market and diminishing support base today (as compared to in the sixties, seventies, eighties and even nineties) is debatable taking the country and the average as a whole……Talking about “five decades of nation-building” we’re not sure its “building” or “unwinding” or unraveling with emigration peaking between March 2008 and August 2009 to 305,000 persons leaving the country! This is acid test for such things were never heard of in the sixties, seventies, eighties and even nineties!

It remains to be tested perhaps in this Hulu Selangor by election on how a liberal and multiracial Zaid would fare.

In past decades all kinds of national slogans urging unity (eg Bangsa Malaysia) have proven ineffective against the trend of increasing polarisation and there’s no reason to think that the inclusiveness of 1 Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) by itself, and relying on its inherent message, can arrest that worsening trend in the face of a consistent lack of political will on the part of those who espouse the message to take it seriously or implement it!

For example Muhyiddin’s reiterating that he is Malay first and Malaysian second not only faces no contradiction from Malaysia and KPI Minister, Koh Tsu Koon but it actually influence KTK to desist from declaring his Malaysian first and Chinese second; and furthermore Muhyiddin’s stance is apologised for and defended by non other than the architect of 1 Malaysia, the PM himself.

So how can it be that there is no market for racial politics compared to (say) in the sixties, seventies, eighties and even nineties??? Muhyiddin has his market!