Moderation, Not Totalism.

I must commend Boon Teong for his other perspective of the "Malay Special Priveleges". It was defiitely insightful and broad-viewed. Nevertheless, I wish wo pose a few challenges to the author.

1.) I've heard of Chinese parents whose children were not accepted into public universities and thus, sent their children to the private colleges. In order to fund the child's education, they had to sell their jewelry, car, get a mortgage and make other financial adjustments in everyday living. Would you please tell them in a easonable, logical way that all their sacrifices are justified. Tell them too that there are many Malay millionaires whose sons and daughters are on multiple scholarships studying abroad. Make them understand.

2.) My good friend, Loy Kak Choon could have become a Pharmacist, and my former classmate, Yew Chee Yen could have saved RM 200,000 (excluding living expenses) and studied Medicine in one of the local universities. Instead, the former is now in Terengganu studying in an unknown university-college and the latter in a Russian medical college whose course is 6 years instead of 5. Tell them all these sacrifeices are for a good cause - to ensure the well-being and welfare of the Malaysian society. Don't forget too that Pang Hoong Chee says that there are 20 medical students of a "priveleged race" in the University of Malaya flunking their exams, most of which can't even much in English, yet most likely they'll be Dr.-Leader-Of-The-Future. Them my two good friends that everything is ok.

3.) Please name me one race or ethnic group in the world today that is strong in will and character because of "priveleges' and "open doors". And I'll show you 100 others that are strong because of adversities and harsh circumstances in life. In actuality, the Special Race of Malaysia have only grown in Money and Possessions, but definitely not in Mentality and Perspective. Special priveleges have created a whole generation of Malays that expect life to handed to them on a silver platter, and who don't appreciate the generosity of the Government.

4.) In the Anatomy Department is a lecturer that has taught and researched Anatomy for 40 years. He is now an associate professor. Guess what? So is his Head of Department, a "Special Priveleged" lady who also happen to be his former student. He's 60, she's 45. Please, tell him that she NEEDS to be the head of department because without it, Malaysia would be in social chaos, just like Indonesia. By the way, tell him also about the 3 full PROFs in Biochemistry Department. They are only in thier 40s.

My point in all these is, QUOTA SYSTEM per se is not wrong nor inappropriate. However the IMPLEMENTATION of it is. Justify the fact that sons and daughters of MINISTERS and MILLIONAIRES are on multiple scholarships, most of which are not spent on BOOKS but HANDPHONES and FLASHY MOTORCYCYLES. If quota system is really about balancing the socioeconomy of Malaysia, why is there a need to segregrate Malays into religious schools, boarding schools, and matriculations? The Indians have been entering universities on a a different grading all these years - we Chinese never made any noise -because they came in under the same pre-university examination. It is the lack of transparency in the implementation that causes all this uproar and dissatisfaction. There seems to be an extremism and obsession in ensuring that Malays be ahead in all areas of life possible. Malay dominance is the term coined by UMNO. The manipulation and ABUSE of the so-called still-needed special priveleges have suddenly made the Malays concious of their identity, so much so that other religions and ethnics are not allowed to have religious activities in government property, as stipulated in the University-College Act 1976. This is a personal experience. My second and final point is that the MAIN ISSUE in this Special Priveleges topic is much less about MONEY AND WEALTH, it's about HOPES AND DREAMS AND ALL YOU EVR WANTED TO BE. It's about losing something to a less deserving person. And sometimes, that something is an ASPIRATION one has harboured all lifetime. Lastly, since when was Malaysia equated to Indonesia?