QUESTION TIME | A couple of incidents recently have raised racial tensions. These are being used by the unscrupulous to fan the flames of enmity among the races so as to make themselves look like champions in the eyes of their own community.

The International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination or Icerd was not ratified probably because of gangster politics by Umno-PAS, despite a previous commitment announced by the prime minister at a recent United Nations meeting.

There were threats of violence, even another May 13, despite the fact that ratification will have no impact on special privileges of bumiputera, including those of Malays. This indicates gross misinformation, with the government buckling to intimidators and making no attempt to explain that Icerd will not affect the special privileges.

Former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malays will go amok. Zahid has confessed links to Malay gangs before, referring to them as “our people”.

And then came the temple riots - started when 50 Malay youths rampaged inside a Hindu temple. Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said a group of Malay men were hired by lawyers acting for the developers but the lawyers and developers denied involvement.

So who was behind this Malay group? A fireman was badly injured, a rather regrettable incident. Both events resulted in needless ratcheting up of racial tension...