 Racial tensions increased as the Chinese in Singapore disdained being discriminated against by the federal policies of affirmative action , which granted special privileges to the Malays guaranteed under Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia . There were also other financial and economic benefits that were preferentially given to Malays . Lee Kuan Yew and other political leaders began advocating for the fair and equal treatment of all races in Malaysia , with a rallying cry of " Malaysian Malaysia ! " . 
