I refer to the Malaysiakini article The night a new Malaysia was born.

I must share a strikingly similar experience at the same rally at the Kelana Jaya stadium on the special night of Sept 15.

I am a 57-year-old, Merdeka generation doctor and father of four grown up children.

I can still remember the day back in August 1957 when me and my friends, as primary school children greeted the independence of Malaya with gleeful shouts of Merdeka, while waving little flags to welcome our founding father, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman on a visit to Ipoh. Life was full of optimism for the future and a sense of togetherness prevailed amongst the Malays, Indians and Chinese.

Alas, after 50 years of locally generated political divide and rule, we are no nearer to achieving a truly united Malaysia. Daily we are reminded by the mainstream media of our unreconcilable racially-driven chasms, tension and discrimination in all walks of life.

I must say it was with some trepidation that I went to the stadium that night.

It was my first time at a PKR rally. My mind was troubled by the fear of violence and carnage that might break out in such an occasion, so warned the media.

What greeted me was completely different. The atmosphere was almost surreal. At all the government functions that I have been to over the years, I always felt more like an outsider instead of an invited guest.

Yet on that beautiful night, people of all races and religion came together as one. There was no tension, no sense of difference between me and the man or woman next to me. The racial divide, which has been the cornerstone of our society, was conspicuously absent. I felt like a Malaysian amongst thousands of other Malaysians. The ambience of harmony and unity was there for all to savour and to enjoy.

Like many others, I sat among people I never met before -Indian youths in trendy jeans and T-shirts, Malay ladies in headscarves, Malay men in sarongs and skull caps - and felt perfectly at ease. For the first time after many years, I sang the Negaraku from the bottom of my heart. This was the Malaysia I knew and grew up in before the politics of race hijacked the noble agenda of our forefathers.

If there was a threat to national security it was clearly not what I and the ten of thousands who were there felt or witnessed. All we heard and felt was a call for reconciliation and to move Malaysia forward with a new agenda.

Brushing aside the political rhetoric of the evening, it was clear that the message from the people to the leadership was that there has been a failure in the delivery of a fair mission and vision for the Malaysian people.

We cannot wait another 50 years. Surely, amongst the millions of Malaysians in the country, there are some statesmen who will heed this urgent call for change. Those who ignore this call from the rakyat or are not in power to do anything, must step aside.

We appreciate them for having tried their best, but the time for trying has passed. What we need now is a real leader who will take charge of the country.

That night at 12 midnight, I sent a message to all my children who are scattered in different parts of the world, letting them know that there is hope that they may one day come back to a new Malaysia, one that has earned the respect of its all citizens and the global community.

I beg to differ with people who say a new Malaysia is the dream of only one man. This is the dream of millions of Malaysians.

Let's pray for this dream to come true and that sane minds and wisdom will prevail in these times of uncertainty.