When I first read the news report on Badruddin Amiruldin's speech during the recently concluded Umno annual general assembly, I felt lost. I just couldn't understand why he was raising such issues at this point in time in our country.

Why was he warning other citizens of our country not to 'disturb the hornets' nest'? Who has been doing it? Have I missed out on something that has been going on in the country? An even more disturbing statement he made was that he called Malaysia 'our country' - a country that belongs to the Malays only.

He is alienating the non-Malays from the country. He is still treating the non-Malays as immigrants - not citizens of the country. This is very, very irresponsible of him. He is being chauvinistic and racist besides lighting and stoking the fire of racial tension in the country.

He has actually brought immense shame to the country and, in particular, to Umno. He is projecting the image that Umno is indeed very racist and chauvinistic. And the Umno delegates were equally guilty in applauding his speech.

Have they no shame in participating in such a ruckus and bringing disgrace to their 'beloved' Umno?

If a similar statement was made by others (non-Malays), I am rather confident that the least that would happen would be that this person would be immediately visited upon by scores of Special Branch officers to be interrogated endlessly.

He would be very lucky if he escaped detention without trial. What about Badruddin? Has he got special rights to make such irresponsible statements? What has our 'liberal prime minister, Pak Lah, got to say about this? Looks like he did not hear what Badruddin said at the assembly.

After a few days of reflection on the matter, I can only conclude that the reason why Badruddin made the statements was that after being elected the new Umno deputy chairperson, he had to say something to impress the delegates but he was bankrupt of constructive ideas.

And unfortunately for the country he chose the wrong topic to talk about. By making such statements, he is indeed the one who is disturbing the hornets' nest.

I would urge people like Badruddin to stop making such chauvinistic, racist and irresponsible statements. They should divert their energy towards building the nation and bringing the various races together instead of reminding others that they are second-class citizens.

Please discard the 'all are equal but we are more equal attitude' for the future of all in the country.