Oops and oops again. The Bangsa Malaysia concept has taken a heavy fall, on a banana peel in the form of a booklet authored by Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin.

The contents of that peel, entitled Anjakan Bangsa (Bouncing or Shifting Race) reportedly gave opposition leader Lim Kit Siang apoplectic fits. Even the title itself has more than a whiff of racism.

A visibly angry opposition leader read out, at the Parliament sitting, the offending booklet which he claimed drew links between DAP and PAS leaders to communism.

Knock. Knock? The Cold War was over long ago and, no need anymore to look under the bed for reds.

Why, just the other day our deputy prime minister was in Beijing, China, glad-handing and toasting closer ties between the two countries. See? How times have changed.

And PAS, when did green turn red? This one is surely smells of mischief-making. A pathetic attempt at objectivity really. Or one stone getting two birds, not necessarily of the same feather either.

No racial remarks

The booklet came on the heels of Umno Youth's outrage over a DAP article posted on its website reportedly belittling the role of Tunku Abdul Rahman and other leaders' struggle to win independence. And giving undue credit to Chin Peng, former secretary-general of the now defunct Malayan Communist Party.

After much heat, both sides sort of kissed and made up. It was at that time when Zainuddin's literary effort made the circuit of MPs at the Dewan Rakyat where the Yang Berhormat (YB) himself was reportedly absent.

One must also toss into this brew the case of three Singaporean youngsters recently charged under the Sedition Act for posting inflammatory racial comments on the internet.

On our side of the cause way, responding to a media question on the matter, Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye replied that the government would not tolerate messages that cause disharmony in the country. He warned of stern action against offenders under the relevant laws.

On his part, Zainuddin said his ministry would report such matters to the authorities.

He warned that the internet is being monitored and those making racial remarksbetter watch out on pain of being reported to the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.

Zainuddin was firm that the government would not allow any racial remarks in any form, be they in speeches, publications or over the internet.

Heh, heh, stricken by conscience, the product of hindsight, wouldn't it be sensational if the YB marched up to the Brickfields police station, and lodged a report against himself?

No harm in dreaming I suppose.

However, such are the facts of life that those within the magic circle seem to enjoy protection. For the simple reason that the members are true believers in the myth that since they sacrifice so much for the public, immunity from some laws is part of their privilege. So conscience doesn't have right of entry into the picture. Pity.

Pity too, that generally our YBs seem quite incapable of protecting the second alphabet in their honorific with any great success.

It's hard to recollect the last time we heard in awesome respect accounts of scintillating debates in Parliament where the cut and thrust of arguments also displayed depth. Where rivals across the divide looked on with respectful admiration at their reasoning being turned upon the head.

Ray of hope

The booklet, according to Lim, also blames the DAP for the May 13 riots. So naughty-lah that man, never informed the authorities and yet, years later, he comes up with this shocking revelation.

Communist links, May 13. And still around. Much head scratching. Must be our government's tolerance that continues to save that party.

From this entire unhappy episode one can gather that some old wars are still being fought while the nation's plate of woes is piled high.

Truly, politicians speak through both sides of the mouth, one side promotes Bangsa Malaysia. The other continues feeding faggots to the fire, keeping the pot boiling.

And so the necessity for Rakan Muda (whatever is happening to it?), National Service andlo and behold now the Rakan Rukun Club to promote national unity in schools. Nothing like catching them young, to coin an expression.

All bets are off on what will come next in the quest for our version of the Holy Grail. However, there does seem to be a ray of light piercing through the dark clouds.

The massive and dramatic transformation that the MCA is undergoing where the party is seen as returning to the members. Hopefully this will set an irreversible and potent trend for the country's political landscape. Let the dreams roll on.