Colonial Divide-and-Rule

The lack of racial unity can be back to the colonial period. [unclear: It] actually due to the British [unclear: co] economic policies. Although economic policies were not intended one ethnic group against [unclear: anoth] active conflict, they were [unclear: intend] prevent unity among different groups along class lines against colonial master.

Each racial group was kept [unclear: with] specialised economic function. Malays were kept in the rural agricultural sector, the Chinese in [unclear: md] urban business, and the Indians the rubber plantations. This economic [unclear: ucture] prevented the various groups [unclear: om] interaction except at one crucial [unclear: nt], where the local non-Malay [unclear: ddlemen] came into contact with Malay [unclear: asants] and consumers. This resulted in apparent target for antagonisms [unclear: ising] from unequal economic relations, [unclear: hether] the peasant met the trader as [unclear: oducer] or as consumer, he or she was [unclear: aced] in the position of price taker, [unclear: ploited] by the trader. Hence, it was [unclear: ardly] surprising that economic [unclear: ievances] came to be framed in ethnic [unclear: rms].