COMMENT | What if Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's latest diplomatic debacle in Dubai had been self-inflicted?

Ismail Sabri was upset by the absence of pomp and circumstance when he visited Dubai. There was no security coverage, nor an official motorcade. He was forced to endure immigration formalities like a rakyat biasa (ordinary citizen) and have a lengthy wait whilst his passport was processed.

Two senior diplomats - the Malaysian Ambassador to UAE Mohd Tarid Sufian and the Consul-General of Malaysia in Dubai, Mohd Hasril Abdul Hamid, were singled out for opprobrium when Ismail was snubbed by UAE officials.

Surely the blame lies with the Ketuanan Malay brigade for creating a sense of entitlement in many Malay politicians?

Not everyone is willing to fulfil the Malay politician's every wish. Foreign people may not realise that, in Malaysia, the rakyat is held to ransom by the Ketuanan brigade. If we do not "ikut cakap" (follow orders), we are punished for insubordination.

Ismail Sabri is also a global defender of Bahasa Melayu, a creator of shopping malls, and a batik promoter, but his recent visit to the UAE, which the New Straits Times touted as the trip to  'build a better brand for Malaysia', was a huge flop...