Lim Guan Eng was sworn in as the Penang Chief Minister and has appointed a Malay and an Indian as his deputies. It is the first multi-ethnic administration in Malaysian history.

In my view, not only it reflects Penang's racial makeup, but it has also weakened racist politics.

Lim did not get to be CM because of his race. He gets it because DAP won the most seats as well as his leadership ability. Similarly, Prof. P. Ramasamy and Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin were appointed as his deputies because of their ideas and abilities, and not because of their race.

Of course, their identity as a Malay and an Indian helps them to deal with the social affairs and issues within the Malay and the Indian community.

It is not a state government which divide power between races. It must be a state government which treat different races fairly, and promote racial unity.

I think this is the desire of many voters, including Malays, Chinese and Indians. Today, our dream may become a reality, or at least, we see the hope.

Multi-ethnic administration has started in Penang and it can be realised in Penang. We expect good things for the future, and no race will say they have been maginalised.

Let's look at Selangor and Perak. The situation is relatively complicated and rather dangerous, especially in Perak.

These two states face the state constitutional restrictions, the Sultan's stand, the proportion seats of various political parties and the state population structure.

In Perak, DAP won 18 seats, with PKR and PAS won 7 and 6 seats respectively.

If DAP wants to become the Menteri Besar, they face the state constitutional restrictions that the Menteri Besar can only be a Malay Muslim, unless Sultan grants them the exemption.

However, there is no suitable candidate from PKR to take over the position. However, PAS won the least seats and many are worried of the party's ideology.

At present, the political parties face dilemma because of the internal pressure, and are unable to find the best solution.

The people involved worries that if he makes concession, he would face pressure from the top management, as well as the condemnation by the members.

There is actually a way out for this dispute. Their most important consideration is the voice of the majority of the people.

During the elections campaign, I went for ceramah one after another. There are significant differences from cities to suburbs, from auditoriums to open air events as well as the use of a few languages.

However, there is a common ground between these differences. The people are concern of non-racial national issues. We are all looking forward to real national unity.

When the candidate shouted for the issue of mono-race, the masses were unconcern. However, when the candidate advocated racial unity and shouted the slogan of “Anak Malaysia”, the masses responded enthusiastically.

Therefore, on polling day, the Malays can vote for DAP, the Chinese can vote for PAS and we can also vote for PKR.

Racial segmentation has at last been broken. It sets a foundation in shaping future political integration. This foundation can't be destroyed because of the dispute over the position of Menteri Besar.

If turmoil were to happen because of this dispute, then the multi-races administration will end very soon.

Change another way of thinking, and allow the leaders who truly have the ability, no racial burden and fight fully for the interests of the people to become the Menteri Besar. It is the way out of racist politics. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by LEE MEI NYEE/ Sin Chew Daily)