The racial divide caused over the past two decades serious implications to the nation as a whole.

While politicians preach about muhibbah, they are the main culprits of racial polarisation, which has permeated in nearly every sphere on our daily life.

Take for example, a former prime minister who continues to bark at the present government, who in his argument asked, "Why must Malay leaders say sorry?"

He may have his personal reasons to find every opportunity to hit out at the present leadership, but to touch on a sensitive spot while it is still healing is like further rubbing salt into wounds, causing greater rift between the races.

In my opinion, May 13 is the doing of selfish politicians who understand little about race harmony. Their myopic political agenda is to rise within their own ethnic group, without taking cognizance that all of us belong to one race--the human race.

It is not only that our politics play on racial cards, but our education system is also plagued with racial divide.

Many of us who grew up in the early years of nationhood are finding it hard to believe what is happening in our education system today, where we see our children no longer have friends from other races.

This is the result of categorisation of race and religion, which is affecting national integration.

How often is it that when you fill up a simple form applying for a bank savings account that you have to mention what race you belong to?

Let me relate another incident, where you would understand why I became angry with our politicians.

While driving to work one morning, I saw an old man lying on the road side.

Immediately, I stopped my car to check out his condition. Together with other passersby, we noticed that he was still breathing. With my handphone, I immediately contacted the police and the ambulance.

The first response which I received from the police was: "Is he Malay, Chinese or Indian?" My tolerance just snapped. I retorted: "I am Chinese, and this man lying on the ground is Malay. Other people trying to help him are Indians."

While our politicians are championing their cause of defending their own races, they have failed to see that they are the main culprits of racial polarisation. Without politicians instigating, racial divide would not have become a problem in any country--and there would not have been a May 13 incident.

What is clearly happening now is that while sincere leaders who represent the Barisan Nasional government are trying to do their job at national integration, through forgiveness and mutual respect, they continue to be haunted by the ghost of the past.

What the country is looking for are leaders who truly represent the interest of all races, and Malaysians would do well without politicians who go on racial cards to gain political mileage.

Ask yourself this question, my fellow Malaysians: If you continue to support individuals who play on your emotions, who or whose families are the ones who eventually benefit? (By STEPHEN NG/MySinchew)