"Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan". This theme suggests that solidarity and unity among Malaysians will bring the nation to the forefront.

Everyone talks of unity but it is really there? Are we making a big fuss over something that is not real? Is the annual Merdeka parade just a charade?

How can we stay united when people are labeling honest tax-paying citizens as ‘squatters’? How can a person make that kind of callous remark and not be given a severe reprimand for offending the feelings of the minorities?

How can we stay united when there are institutions which are mono-ethnic and when there were calls to open its doors to other races, they were shot down vehemently and aggressively?

How can we stay united when there are different routes for students applying for admission to our local institutions of higher learning? How can it be fair when an STPM qualification which takes one and a half year of hard work is put on par with a matriculation qualification which takes only a year?

How is it fair that scholarships for local and overseas studies are not given out in a transparent manner? How can you explain to a student who has 11 As that he or she is not as qualified to receive a scholarship as one with 8 As when all other factors are equally weighed?

How can we bring the people of different races together under one roof when the public sector is heavily populated by one ethnic race?

What is the reason behind the best brains in the country being denied positions in government linked companies? Why are these posts taken up by people based on ethnicity and cronyism?

How can we stand united when our leaders keep on harping and chanting of the superiority of one race over another? Aren’t we all equal in the eyes of God?

How can we allow teachers people who are supposed to be models to our young minds be sarcastic and critical of other races?

When can we look to the day when we can proudly call ourselves Bangsa Malaysia and genuinely hold hands with our Malay, Indian and Chinese brethren and regard ourselves as equal beings in the eyes of God? Only when this happens can we be truly united and move forward.

Let’s put aside our differences and work on the common goal of moving Malaysia forward. Diversity should be our strength, not weakness.