We are encouraged by the recent statements of Umno vice president Muyhiddin Yassin and other Barisan Nasional politicians confirming that the time is right for Barisan component parties to hold closed door meetings on national unity and other sensitive issues and to arrive at a consensus when dealing with contentious subjects that are dividing our nation.

We trust that this is not another election motivated response that is soon forgotten and consigned to the dustbin of political rhetoric once the elections are out of the way.

In our view, in-house Barisan Nasional meetings should not be the only channel of discussion and decision on vital matters affecting the country's future. A forum bringing together a more broadly representative and participatory group of Malaysians drawn from the various communities and containing expertise from different sectors of the economy and society - not just from politics - would be an inclusive way to deliberate on our future direction.

We had earlier called for the establishment of a new National Consultative Council comprising the best independent minds in the country to formulate a new road map for the country.

Let us rise above politics as usual and provide the opportunity for this group to engage in non-partisan fact-finding and analyses on the full range of national policies - on education, the NEP and bumiputera rights, corruption and cronyism, equity ownership, composition of the civil service, military and police, etc, all that have generated so much passion, serious disagreement and tension.

Let us put an end to top down planning and paternalistic approaches and take that step in democratic consultation and planning that can generate bold and innovative solutions to our problems in the interest of national unity. Malaysians deserve to participate fully in seeking a new national consensus and determine with their leaders the way forward.