COMMENT | What is happening to Malaysia, a country that often boasts itself as multiracial and multi-religious? Are we moving in the direction of religious and ethnic extremism?

Harmless statues are being removed from parks and schools in the name of protecting a religion. Slow but sure, segregation measures are being introduced in schools by some overzealous headmasters. The list can go on.

These are some of the recent developments in the country that have incensed and hurt the feelings of non-Muslims. They point in the direction where the country is becoming religiously polarised. Of course, ethnic and religious politics at the macro level are not helping the situation. In fact, they are making the situation much worse.

In a park in Kulim, two statues of women with wings were removed because they were "offensive" to Islam. These statues merely existed to enhance the attraction of the park but were ordered removed.

In a school in Ulu Langat, the headmaster instructed the separation of drinking cups for Muslim and non-Muslim children. Although the direction was rescinded, nonetheless, the damage was done, and it set a dangerous precedent for other schools in the country to follow.

Very recently, a statue of great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar in a Tamil School in the state was told to be covered up by the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar's Office...