I refer to the Malaysiakini report Hisham bars Pakatan leaders from schools.

I watch with my breath held as everyday the racial harmony we had previously enjoyed for so many years is systematically being torn to shreds by so-called leaders in our midst.

All this while, the rakyat have long suspected that the integration system seemingly practised by our present day government is nothing more than rhetoric to garner more support and votes.

If you have been to your children's school lately and stayed around for recess, you will notice that racial polarisation is indeed a real and scary thing. You will notice that the students are in their own 'racial comfort zone'. What has happened?

This indoctrination of racial polarisation - who is responsible for such a terrible thing in this country?

And it is all starting in the schools. What will happen when these students grow up and come out to work? Can we still change their mindset?

I blame the present day's leaders, especially those from Umno and the BN component parties.

On one hand, when the annual Merdeka Day celebrations draws closer, the BN leaders will all sing the same old tune.

They will call for unity and the importance of it but once Merdeka is over, it is back to the same old way - divide and rule.

Some overzealous Umno leaders will say that Malays are the rightful 'owners' of this country and no one should question that. Right. No one will question that until the leaders overstep their boundaries and start abusing their rights to oppress the other rakyat in Malaysia.

Examples:

1. Rais Yatim made a boo-boo when he insisted that 'since the Chinese have had control over the

Malaysian economy for well over so many years and Umno did not complain, others should also not complain if the Malays control the economy now'.

Do we want to put this kind of person as our leader? What will the students think and how will this affect their thinking?

And for your information, the Chinese, Indians and others who got rich did not just wait for handouts and money to fall from the sky. We worked for it.

2. Hishammuddin Hussein Onn brandishing an unsheathed kris and goading all his merry men.

Yes, Hisham, we have not forgotten that episode and it will stay fresh in all our minds.

That incident may have been when Umno Youth and others picked up the 'endorsement' by a 'national leader' to act like a thug and hooligan.

So, our students are supposed to catch on to this as well? Do we all - Malays, Chinese, Indians and all other Malaysians - want to see our children being taught to be intolerant of one another, disrespecting each another, taunting one another with racial slurs taught by our 'beloved leaders of the future generations'?

Wake up! Where have all the good old days gone to when we all could sit down to have a cup of tea or coffee together and have a good spirited chat about everything under the sun?