Yeah, envy is a pretty destructive thing.
The emotion the average Bumiputera SHOULD feel toward the Chinese and Malayo-Chinese is pure gratitude. The place would be nothing if not for the peranakan laut.
I was born in Singapore, where similar equations between the ethnic groups existed. Only difference is that the ethnic Chinese there were they majority. Li Quan Yu was a tough guy and after him Goh Chok Tong. Singapore even had a few Indians as Presidents. For a long time Singapore was what Malaysia always wanted to be. Malaysians always looked at Singapore with envy. Until Malaysia exploited their rubber plantation and transformed their economy. Singapore as I remembered had tough laws, tough but fair. The Malaysians friends I had were very friendly, and there was almost no hint of religious extremism back then. Singapore and Malaysian relations have always been edgy.
For me between Singapore and Malaysia its a clear choice. I think we should be cautious about our military sales to Malaysia.