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JUNE 24 – This is what we feared, Mr Prime Minister.  That, when confronted with the choice of Malaysian unity or Malay unity, you would plump for the latter but attempt to wrap it as a option which would be consistent with your 1Malaysia concept.

That, when confronted with the politically easier and attractive choice of working together with Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS), you would reach for tired clichés of working for the betterment of Islam and Muslims in the country, and relegate non-Malays to an afterthought, a footnote.

Non-Malays must have felt like bit players today reading comments from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the man who promised that he would usher in a new era of equality for all Malaysians.

He appealed to PAS to reconsider the proposal to form a unity government with Umno, saying that the Islamic party should not allow political considerations to get in the way of uniting the Malay/Muslim community.

But what about the rest of the country? What about the Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusuns, Dayaks, Sikhs, Eurasians and others? What role will they play in a Malay unity government? Who will look after the interests of non-Malays? Will crumbs be tossed their way?

Najib attempted to assure non-Malays that they have nothing to fear but his answer only served to raise red flags.

“Just because there is a unity government doesn’t mean non-Malays will be neglected.  They will still have a role,” he said today. How comforting?

Sorry, Mr Prime Minister, non-Malays do not want to be bit players. They do not want minor roles. Chinese, Indians and others do not want to be accorded second-class status.

They yearn to be treated as equals in the only home they have. Little possibility of that happening in a government dominated by Umno/PAS.

Mind you, this is not paranoia. If Umno and its institutions (read: Utusan Malaysia) are insufferable and arrogant with the power vested in them now, one can only shudder at the thought of now intolerant and blind to the rights of other Malaysians they will be with the heft of all Malay political power?