I refer to malaysiakini's report Don't stir the hornet's nest called Malay Rights .

I must say that only a fool in Malaysia would question the Malays' special rights. But certainly it is more foolish to use this 'bogeyman' to fan racial tensions and make other Malaysians the 'whipping boys' in order to collect 'brownie points' and thunderous applause.

This is no joking matter. Have we not learnt from past mistakes?

What is more shocking is that Badruddin Amiruldin's comments and outburst came just 24 days after we celebrated our National Day, together as Malaysians and after a Barisan Nasional landslide victory at the last general election.

His comments were indeed bitter pills to swallow and confirms the fears of social and political commentators that we are still far away in creating a truly Malaysian society despite all the political rhetoric.

So I ask, why was the issue of Malay rights and the attack on other races mounted at the Putra World Trade Centre by Umno's newly-elected deputy chairperson?

Was it a red herring to divert attention from growing allegations of mass vote rigging and buying that caused a major upset put into question premier and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's vision and war to wipe out corruption and to spearhead transparency, accountability and good governance?

What did he hope to gain by bringing up a subject that was not an issue prior to the assembly and was neither part of the Umno general assembly's presidential address? For Pak Lah's policy speech was about the reform the Malay mind to make them less dependent on government aid.

But if one does not want reform, so be it. If one wants to continue to be a subsidy community, in an age of globalisation, that is one's choice.

But one must remember that we live in a global village today and such comments and threats as Badruddin's on minority races will only hurt the image of the country and our leaders.

The last thing we need now is to tell the world that we have in Malaysia, a fair number of racists in addition to the popular notion abroad, that we are a 'safe haven' for international terrorists.

Thanks to the sacrifices of our founding fathers and the sheer hard work and tolerance by all communities, Malaysia today stands tall as a united nation despite its diversity. We have grown from strength to strength.

So, those who aspire to lead, both young and old, please lead as leaders of a multiracial, multireligious society. Do not be a racialist, a fanatic, a political adventurer or a self-server, using multiracialism and communal overtones as political leverage.