Hishammuddin Hussein Onn's keris-waving antics should be seen as a cheap shot by a politician short of ideas. After all, this is the same person who the previous year branded Anwar Ibrahim a traitor and then proceeded to launch a vile and obnoxious tirade against the poor man, forgetting his grandfather can also be considered a traitor by his own reckoning.

Isn't it obvious to us that this man feels that he has to fight the 'enemy' in whatever manifestation for him to be relevant? This year, unfortunately, his bogeyman are the non-Malays.

But he forgets his MCA and Gerakan friends in his zeal to be championing the cause. Perhaps next year he will be waving a keris at the foreigners in this country.

We must not let him off the hook for his irresponsible and reckless behaviour. He should be admonished and chastised by his leaders but more importantly the people regardless of race.

After 48 years of independence, isn't it sad that politicians are still making us feel insecure about our place in this country. We must rise above this crude politics and consign people like Hishammuddin to an early retirement.