Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has repeatedly advised western nations to get to the root cause of terrorism. I humbly advise him to get to the root cause of racial polarisation in our country.

Decades of affirmative policies (read: institutionalised discrimination and racism) have moulded the people into assuming survival instincts to cope with life in such a society. The Islamisation process too had contributed to the breakdown.

Sincerity is what's needed from our government, not national service that's clearly designed to prolong their hold onto power. I served nine years as a military officer but what's the bet that I'm grouped as an extremist, or at best chauvinist, because of my Malaysian Malaysia views.

If I can't be 'patriotic' after nine years, what does the government expect from a short stint at the national service camp?