‘Ketuanan Melayu’ is a concept that makes regular forays into the political scene, usually instigated by strategic politicians to further their own agendas. Practically every major Umno politician has used it at some point, usually in the early stages of his career.

The latest agent provocateur to make use of it is none other than the original ultra himself, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In a recent speech in Johor, he warned that Malays were losing out to the non-Malays and proceeded to make the phrase ‘Malaysia for Malaysians’ sound like some four-letter word, prompting Haris Ibrahim (of People's Parliament fame) to ask in response: "What, Malaysia is not for Malaysians? For who, then? Racists like you only?"