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As a multiracial country, Malaysia must have racial tolerance. Hence, we have to rectify social and economic imbalances such as the gap in education. We need continuous efforts to ensure that no race is left out in the national development.

While we identify and correct the various divides, we must ensure that there are no abuses. For example, Malaysians feel aggrieved that there have been bloodymindedness and insensitivity in allotting university places and scholarships. We see brain drain for decades.

Recently, the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Deputy Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi have reiterated the Government intention to use meritocracy to admit Malays into public universities. The Deputy Prime Minister (on 16.8.2001) reassures us that this is not a political agenda. It will stimulate Malays to work harder and more of them may be accepted into the universities.

We have to prepare for further globalisation and liberalisation because the world does not recognize quotas. It only seeks out those who are competitive.

The 1996 Education Act stipulates that Malaysia will have a world-class education. This means that education is based on merits among other things. How else do we make the country into a centre of excllence in education in the region? No excellence will ensue as long as feudal mentality, mediocrity and bloodymindedness exist.

We hope that the Government will present a just system of admission on merits. This may help to alleviate years of anguish among Malaysians.

A meretocratic system may only apply to Malays within the quota system. We also need to know how the Government manage the funding of students such as scholarships and loans.

LOANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

The Government has the National Higher Education Fund, giving out loans to 234,182 students by May 2001. Once they graduate, students must pay back through deducting their incomes tax or other means.

While hoping that the loans are given on just criteria, we would like to know how the various agencies such as the Public Services Department, MARA, Defence Ministry, foundations and scholarship boards in all states select students for scholarships. How many stdudents have benefited and how many have made full use of them? THE GOVERNMENT HAS KEPT MUM.

We know that this year 2157 people receive scholarships for teachers to do integrated bachelor degree or education diploma in the public institutions of higher learning. We wish that they make the best of these scholarships.

Why are the Government's lips sealed? How many Malaysians of various races receive scholarships from the multitude of agencies annually? How many have gone overseas? How many have graduated? How many have failed? What have been the criteria used? Do they include merits and needs? What is the total yearly amount of money?

We have always been concerned with the management and monitoring of these scholarships. We urge the Government to review the ways with which these scholarships are allocated. Without this type of review, we will not be able to see a fairer and better system of scholarships.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw