By Shamsul Akmar

NEWSPAPER reports were quite funny when they likened singer Norwati Sadali of the Elite pop group to Cinderella for dropping her shoe when running away from photographers.

The incident occurred after her appearance in court over a drink-driving case.

But it isn't that funny if one were to be in her shoes.

Norwati aside, there have been many politicians who have also mimicked or emulated feats comparable to those only found in fairy tales.

Many have acquired the skills of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, leading numerous people to potential emotional drownings.

Some, in the feverish run up to the elections, are behaving like Aladdin, promising things which only a genie from the magic lamp can deliver.

More worrying is the way politicians are behaving of late--although not in the confines of mediaeval settings as the fairy tales--they have however resorted to something more ancient.

They seem to have got caught again by the primordial sentiments--racial hostility laced with religious intolerance.

A point of contention is the issue of Parti Keadilan Nasional vice-president Marina Yusoff's who allegedly accused Umno, former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Harun Idris and the police of perpetrating the May 13, 1969, racial riots.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reacted by saying that police will take action against Marina.

Whether it is justified or otherwise for action to be taken against Marina, the people will be the judge of it.

More of interest is the manner such racially sensitive issues are being manipulated by politicians to secure votes.

Marina is said to have chosen to make the accusations in the presence of Chinese voters, meaning it was a conscious effort to prove that the Keadilan Malays were not like those from Umno.

As such, what Marina is saying is that the Chinese would be better off by supporting Keadilan and its partners in Barisan Alternatif, the opposition alliance, than by throwing their lot behind Umno-led Barisan Nasional.

While these moves should be perceived as something expected from any politician or political party, the more worrying thing is how these politicians are "selective" when making such statements.

The fact remains that Marina chose to make those remarks before a Chinese-majority audience and it is doubtful if she will make similar remarks if she was speaking before a Malay-majority presence.

For example, other Keadilan leaders had been known to have gone to Malay-dominated areas and spoken of ketuanan Melayu (Malay dominance) and promised to ensure the community's supremacy in the nation.

But Marina and Keadilan are not the only ones indulging in such "racial segregated speeches."

Politicians from Umno, PAS, the DAP, the MCA, the MIC and other political parties are guilty of similar sins.

However, those more sensitive about these racially-influenced speeches are the Malays--especially now when they are divided and their sense of direction is somewhat blurred.

It is their disunity which has actually opened up "opportunities" for those from other communities who are caught up with racial chauvinism to take swipes at their leaders.

As such, PAS should not be overly upset with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik for reminding Malaysians to be wary of the extreme Islamisation pursuits of PAS.

After all, Dr Ling was merely echoing what Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been saying about PAS.

But PAS should also start blaming itself for drawing such remarks from MCA.

After all, its mursyidul aam (spiritual adviser) Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was not "sinless" in the issue as he ignored racial sensitivities when he proposed that Chinese embrace Islam if vices in the country were to be stopped.

At the same time, Malay leaders from Keadilan too are guilty of "opening" the doors to those from other races to bluntly condemn leaders who may be revered by other Malays who are not with Keadilan.

Last month's demonstrations which saw the National Mosque being used as a platform by supporters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to condemn Umno and Dr Mahathir left many Malays bitterly upset.

It is not so much the condemnation which upset them but the presence of non-Malays at the mosque's premises.

The fact that many Malays still revere the mosque as a place of worship is one thing but to allow non-Malays to use it as a platform to condemn other Muslim leaders was a bit too much for them to chew.

Of course PAS and Keadilan leaders may defend their actions as they had already deemed Umno leaders infidels but there are still a number of Malays who accept the Umno leaders as Muslims.

While PAS and Keadilan have to deal with this, Umno is facing pressure from its own ranks following the 17-point memorandum submitted by 11 Chinese organisations to the Barisan government.

MCA and Gerakan have insisted that the memorandum is an appeal and not a demand.

However, some Malays have responded by saying no matter what it is called, the intention is to pressure Umno when it was having problems with some sections of the Malay community.

Their argument is further backed by the fact that the 11 Chinese organisations have refused to sit in the National Economic Consultative Council II.

Interestingly enough, the opposition alliance reacted fast, saying they are prepared to adopt the 17 points, which included the removal of some of the Malay privileges, if voted into power.

Here, the question is not whether the privileges should be reviewed but rather what is PAS' and Keadilan's stand on the matter, especially when they have openly made promises in Malay-dominated constituencies about the community's dominance with the privileges intact.

And amid all these, political leaders when going on the national platform are promising that as the nation progresses into the new millennium Bangsa Malaysia will become a reality.

Somehow, looking at the way these politicians and political parties conduct themselves, there is no commitment to this promise.

The only hope is that Wanita Umno leader Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will not attempt to emulate her namesake from the Arabian Nights and try to lull voters with tales told over 1,001 nights.

Then, the citizenry will truly be misled into believing they will live happily ever after.