Kuala Lampur, Nov. 6 -- As thousands of Malaysian homes prepare to glow with beautiful oil lamps this Deepavali, perhaps we should ask ourselves an uncomfortable question. Are we truly illuminating our society, or have we become content with lighting up our houses while leaving our prejudices untouched?

Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, carries a profound message about the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair. For Hindu Malaysians, it is a deeply meaningful religious and cultural celebration. For the rest of us, it offers an equally valuable opportunity to reflect on the kind of Malaysia we wish to build.

We often proudly describe Malaysia as a multicultural nation. We celebrate Hari Raya, Chinese New Ye...