Two days after the red shirt rally, I am still puzzled over their objective for taking to the streets. What’s clear however, with the latest demand by the rally leader, is that the protest had an ulterior motive of stirring racial sentiments and possibly a clash.

Umno division chief and rally organiser Jamal Md Yunos now wants the Chinatown traders to share their spoils by allowing Malays to trade there. Did I miss something? Wasn’t the rally held as a sign of support for the government, Umno, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and to protect Malay dignity?

Or was it cleverly engineered to shift the rakyat’s attention from Najib and the 1MDB scandal that is tightening the noose around his neck, by bringing about a racial tension? Najib has shamelessly endorsed the racially charged street rally, an act totally unbecoming of a head of state. Some Umno top guns even said the rally was to spread a message of peace.

But I wonder how this could be achieved by carrying banners and placards that screamed racially inflammatory remarks, chasing away Chinese reporters and calling them ‘Chinese pigs’. This is sheer arrogance and marred the spirit of Malaysia Day, where pluralism was celebrated year after year.

As I write this, Petaling Street remains shut for business. The authorities had ordered the shutdown to avoid possible clashes. In short, the police and government can't secure a street for its citizens.

This is definitely a stark difference from celebrating our unity in diversity on Sept 16. What is different today is the ugly snarl of racism that was sneaked into the society by politically-motivated Umno leaders, to keep it divided and broken.

In Malaysia, we are yet to openly discuss the dynamics of racism that is threatening to split the nation right down the middle. But we cannot continue to be lulled by empty rhetoric of national integration through racial unity. The racial slur against the Chinese at the rally supported by ruling Umno is a testimony to that.

We need to find a way beyond the many laws that do not facilitate progressive discussions, to come up with a workable solution that will allow us to savor the good old days, where all Malaysians lived in harmony. Until this can be done, there will be many more red shirt wallahs, flimsy unity and tension on the streets.

CHARLES SANTIAGO is the Member of Parliament, Klang.