One rainy night some three weeks ago, the sad news trickled in over the telephone that the doctors had given up hope on saving my cousin. Soon, relatives and friends gathered at her house, which sat engulfed in despair, to offer their condolences to her mother and children.

Among them, an elderly Malay couple who have lived next door for decades.

Without the slightest hesitation, the former high-ranking civil servant with a Tan Sri title and his wife hugged my inconsolable aunt and tears flowed.

For the next hour or so, the Puan Sri held her elderly neighbour's hands, gently stroking them as she whispered words of courage to a woman who was on the verge of losing her beloved daughter.

It was a scene that could have melted the coldest of hearts.

This was an example of what Malaysia was, an era, where in moments of joy and grief, race and religion were transcended and humanity took precedence over colour and creed.

That was the land of P Ramlee movies which offered a cinematic experience for all Malaysians, and when the credits rolled, Chinese and Indian names ran alongside Malay names on the screen.

Some are of the opinion that the late thespian, who was also blessed with a melodious voice, is the true exponent of the 1Malaysia concept, for he had managed to bring all the races together under one roof without the need for an expensive or expansive public relations campaign.

In fact, back then, 1Malaysia was more of a way of life than an overstretched slogan.

Under the same sun but...?

That was a kingdom shielded from the venomous words that appear in bold print on the pages of a certain daily or the televised brandishing of traditional daggers and shouts of intimidating slogans, which could land the perpetrators in jail in some countries.

These individuals and their agents never fail to remind Malaysians that although we live under the same sun, we feel different degrees of heat.

Regrettably, some of these culprits are those who once treaded the hallowed grounds of prestigious tertiary institutions that pride themselves in moulding great men and women who strive towards the betterment of the human race.

Then again, in the pursuit of power and wealth, much is sacrificed, it is somewhat of a Faustian bargain in want of a better description.

After bidding farewell to the Tan Sri and his wife, my father, a retired civil servant himself, reminisced about the good old days.

"People were just different then, I don't know what happened."

"I had many good Malay friends and we never talked about race or religion. Just look at how things have changed," he lamented.

An uncle, a retired school teacher, could not agree more. "We lived together, ate together and race and religion were never an issue."

He then shared his experience of being the only non-Malay in a remote village in Pahang during the 1960s, where he had been posted. During that one year, which he described as being ranked among the best experiences of his life, my uncle shared a bamboo hut with three other Malay teachers.

In those days, a 'cikgu' (teacher) was akin to being a VIP and you got invited to all the occasions, be it funerals or weddings. "Not once did I feel discriminated," he said.

So where did it all go wrong?

Most attribute the sad turn of events to the bloody 1969 racial riots which had altered the rules of the game, giving birth to pro-Malay policies that paved the way for disenfranchisement, distrust and division.

Some pin the blame on the 22-year reign of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom they accuse of creating a monster with his obsession of wanting to uplift the economic standing of the Malays.

One observer pointed out that a recent History Channel special feature on the octogenarian had revealed the true picture. He argued that Mahathir spoke more like the former president of Umno rather than the former prime minister of Malaysia.

But there are those who credit Mahathir for keeping racism under control with his iron-fist rule, but the menace, they pointed out, had reared its ugly head when the grip loosened during his successor's administration and now the new premier is emptying the medicine cabinet to treat the wound.

Heads must roll

Many are of the belief that racism is a state of mind that cannot be eradicated, rather only controlled or suppressed. It is an evil that must be kept at bay with stringent legislation and swift action against those who dare cross the line.

In Malaysia, you can get away with murder when it comes to spewing racist remarks, especially if it is the non-Malays who are on the receiving end.

So it's quite an arduous task to feel the kind of patriotism and love for the 'motherland' as demanded by the politicians when the matriarch keeps reminding her children that she does not love them all equally.

With this inequality looming, one can only blink with incredulity when Mahathir recently suggested that the Chinese and Indians (often referred to as 'kaum pendatang' in times of altercation) forget their roots and call themselves Malaysians.

In such a climate, the new prime minister's attempt to sow the seeds of 'oneness' would bear little fruit when some people and institutions consistently fell these trees with the blades of divisiveness in the name of defending race and religion.

First and foremost, the Umno president should put a muzzle on the party mouthpiece which is fond of painting an 'Us versus Them' picture.

Next, a leash should be put on all politicians who play the race and religious cards for their own political mileage.

To quote the words of Martin Luther King Jr, 'True peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice'.

So, heads must roll when the boundaries are transgressed.

RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.