Reference is made here to Prof P Ramasamy's comments that the present government is "based not on universal or progressive values, but operating on the basis of primordial concerns and attributes" related to race; that the opposition might represent hope to rescue the people from "clutches of those in power" ('Racial segregation - a microcosm of Malaysian politics', Dec 25).

People often get the politicians they deserve. For it is the object of political organisations and the elites to secure, and maintain support by playing on and embodying the anxieties and complexes, the so-called primordial concerns of their respective constituencies.

In the context of this country, if one practises true statesmanship of guiding and leading others away from, instead of being led by their narrow sectarian racial concerns, chances are the people upon whom support and votes depend, will withdraw that support in favour of more racist others.

I am less sanguine than the writer on the prospects of the opposition's "rescuing the people".

There is also nothing evinced so far by the opposition parties' conduct to suggest that they do not support, and are against the ruling coalition's racial agenda of upholding Malay hegemony.

On the contrary, the opposition has appealed to the other "primordial concerns" based on religion as a platform to wrench political support from the ruling coalition.

In that sense, the opposition, far from showing promise of taking the country to a higher plane of political, economic or cultural organisation transcending race, has not only preserved the racial agenda but, in addition, has started a political race competing on religion.

Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad (Alsree)'s conclusion that "BN under Umno's leadership still represents Malaysia's best interest" ("BN under Umno is still our best 'alternative', Dec 24) simply implies that, by default of the opposition, BN under Umno is the lesser of the two extremes!

The gap between the ruling coalition and the extremity of the opposing front is however narrowing as the former seeks to out-islamise PAS which is tacitly supported by Keadilan and PRM that refuse to back DAP in its feud with PAS on the Islamic state issue.

So where do we go from there?

The country is veering to and fast hurtling down the most dangerous path built on a fait accompli of racial hegemony and segregation set in place by the ruling coalition but towards the destination of an 'Islamic state' as the religious banner is used by both sides to rally and compete for support (Dr Farish A Noor's "No bated breaths for result of out-Islamising race", Dec 22).

Under such circumstances, how could anyone be sanguine about the prospects of nation building and the opposition parties' role to advance it?