"Chinese and Tamil primary schools should change their teaching medium" is Mukhriz Mahathir's personal suggestion.It is his own problem if he chooses to be seen as a third class politico. The 2 Racist thugs in Malaysia.
In fact, the public need not make a hoohah over what he has said, or be dragged into his game as he runs for the UMNO Youth chair.
His superior, the country's prime minister-in-waiting and party president Najib Tun Razak, has reiterated that Chinese and Tamil schools will keep the status quo, and that is the government's official stand.
Of course, as the next commander-in-chief of UMNO and the government, Najib should have questioned Mukhriz why he has expressed things contrary to the government's stand.
This is not meant to be picky with Mukhriz. As a matter of fact, his remarks have embarrassed both the government and Barisan Nasional. And who else should bear the consequences if not he?
If there is going to be an election--well, a by-election is imminent in Kuala Terengganu--BN will inevitably come under public censure for unrighteousness.
The 11% Chinese voters and nearly 1% Indian and Thai voters in that constituency may point their fingers at the BN government, and vote against the ruling coalition.
BN took the seat with a thin majority of 628 in March, and cannot afford to lose anymore votes this time round.
The problem is, Mukhriz is not running for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat, but the UMNO Youth chair.
As such, he wouldn't be bothered how others would perceive him, but whether UMNO Youth delegates would rally behind him.
And this is the operational logic of a racially inclined political party. To survive, or prosper, in such a party, the players need to put on one after another bad show.
Therefore, whether Chinese and Tamil schools are impeding national solidarity, or politicians not giving Malaysians a chance to come united, the answer lies with the conscience of the rakyat.
If Mukhriz eventually gets elected UMNO Youth chief (indeed he stands an excellent chance; anyway, there aren't many good options among the three contenders), what will he say of national solidarity or what remarkable proposals will he come up with? May God have mercy on us!
Mukhriz is not alone. Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the Pasir Salak MP who frequently creates havoc in the Parliament, converting the solemn meeting hall into a stage tainted with racism and vulgarity, has also repeatedly torn the vulnerable structure of the Malaysian society apart.
This is the most pressing test BN has come face to face with.
The rakyat have made their voices heard, that monoracial political approach is no longer acceptable, and politicians playing monoracial heroes are no longer in demand.
Each and every component party within BN is absolutely clear that racist politics is now a thing of the past. Malaysia is a nation that belongs to all peoples, not one fragmented into different communities.
Those in the helm are well aware that they must forego their monoracial approach for a multiracial, more accommodating and moderate approach if BN is to continue ruling this country.
What they lack, is political will.
Several months ago, prime minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he wanted to call a BN meeting to once again consolidate the bonds of various component parties.
We have not heard anything about this meeting since. The component parties have strayed further and further apart, with internal differences not inferior in magnitude to those between BN and Pakatan Rakyat.
The leaders must set their minds and sights way beyond the confines of the party, to encompass the entire government and nation, even global development trends, as they scramble to identify their own positioning and directions.
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