So there you have it – in less than a week since historic election results in Malaysia, the old symptoms of a long term disease has reared their ugly heads. It is the disease of race based politics. Soon after the elections, you get stalwarts of the racist game like Anwar Ibrahim, saying things like the Chief Minister of Perak state must be a malay. Apparently the state constitution said so. Really? This election has been about change, has it not? Is a provision of the constitution based on race a good provision? Surely this is a great time to revisit this issue and work to change that provision? But of course not – this is one aspect which Anwar Ibrahim is happy to retain status quo. With people like Anwar Ibrahim helming things, Malaysia would remain largely unchanged. Lots of rhetoric for sure, but real change would not take place.With the Perak state chief minister issue causing consternation to Kit Siang, you see the real obstacle to reform and progress in Malaysia – the malay, and their leaders, remain adamant about maintaining an unequitable and unfair status in the country. Surely if change is what the people have voted for, change is what you seek to deliver to the best of your ability? Why cant for example, the state assemblymen agree amongst themselves, who the chief minister would be and bear the responsibility of explaining to their constituency the basis for the assemblymen’s collective decision? If that decision turns out to be choosing a malay as the CM, fantastic! If the choice was a chinese, equally fantastic! The basis however, must be that it is the choice of the assemblymen, not some pre-determined preference of racist leaders like Anwar Ibrahim.Anwar Ibrahim is merely new school UMNO. His PKR boys – ditto. Unfortunately, this is starting to look like a “same car, different driver” scenario. So what if UMNO lost big time – PKR is here to salvage matters and ensure business as usual in racist Malaysia.Actually Anwar could have been smarter about it – he could publicly state he believed there should be a fairer and more equitable basis to go about this and the decision should be left to the respective assemblymen. Their collective choice should be the determining factor. This would smell like a bunch of roses – it would suggest true democratic characteristics have started to define this newly elected bunch of representatives. Behind the scenes of course, he could use his considerable persuasive powers to suggest Malaysia should remain racist. What has he got to lose? He has another 5 years before he has to face the electorate and confront the fear of his malay voters thinking he is less malay. Nearer that date he could be a racist politician again and seek to win votes that way. Perhaps he is contemplating a by-election soon, as rumoured. Maybe he is asking a PKR guy to give up his seat so that this champion of the Malay race can ride again and he needs to play the unfortunate racist card to maintain his popularity. Maybe he simply isn’t smart enough. Not as smart as he is racist.