He said the ministry wanted to re-evaluate the medical degrees from the university, adding that the university was not as impressive as those in Malaysia and Western countries.

Pointing to the large number of Malaysian students there, Musa said there was a need to review the status in the interest of the students and the country, saying "we are forced to review it for our own good".

Chatting to the Malaysian students, I remembered telling my colleagues that these young people would be very unhappy when they read our news reports via the Internet the following day. None of us had the heart to tell them of the press conference by Musa earlier.

Last week, the Crimea State Medical University issue was hotly debated in Parliament, with dramatic exchange of words resulting in a verbal clash between the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Syed Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz and DAP MPs.

But it was Datuk S. Sothinathan, the Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister, who found himself being suspended from his government post for three months after he broke ranks with the front bench.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Sothinathan's action was not befitting his role as a member of the Barisan front bench and that he should not have taken the stand of criticising his own government.

Outside Parliament, the debate has continued among members of the public. Some arguments have taken a racial tone, which is unfortunate, as the matter should be examined from the country's national interest.

The dilemma of our students at the university, irrespective of their ethnicity, should be regarded as a Malaysian problem.

There are Malay, Chinese and Indian students in Crimea. In fact, in 2003, Selangor state government officials even visited the university and signed a memorandum of understanding to place Yayasan Selangor students there.

Questions have been raised over the manner in which the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) handled the issue as it had previously recognised the degrees from the said university.

Then, there is also the concern over why the Education Ministry had given "no objection" letters to Malaysian students, who are said to be Arts students, to pursue their studies there.

These are valid questions and it is best that they are handled in a rational manner. Our Malaysian students there must be anxiously waiting for the Government to address their worries now. All the angry outbursts and name-calling, which are unbecoming of our politicians, will not help them.

In all fairness, the alert from the Government came long ago. The MMC has the right to ensure that Malaysians abroad study at the best universities.

Among the reasons stated for the MMC's change of heart in recognising the university included the dubious qualifications of students admitted for the institute's medical studies, the difficulty of its medical graduates in using technical terms in English, and the strain on the quality of teaching due to the sudden increase in intake.

The MMC has stated that it would withdraw the recognition of the programme to any student registered and admitted after Dec 31 this year.

Some parents have appealed to the body to extend the deadline to another year, pointing out that when the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom withdrew its recognition of medical degrees from Universiti Malaya in the 1980s, it gave the university a five-year period to rectify what it saw as its weaknesses.

The fault of the MMC is the sudden change of heart after having given recognition  earlier and the manner it is now tackling this headache.

Unlike other degrees, doctors deal with human lives and none of us want to be treated by doctors with dubious medical degrees.

But all is not lost. Graduates of the Crimea State Medical University, it should be pointed out, can still sit for a qualifying examination when they come back to Malaysia. If they pass, they can still practise at home.

There are other options. For example, Kiev University is prepared to provide courses to Malaysians using English as a medium of instruction. Musa, who had visited the university, was impressed with the facilities there.

Here is an interesting historical anecdote: Crimea, now an autonomous region in Ukraine, has a long history of conflict. The Crimean War, which lasted two years from 1854-56, was fought between Russia and the alliance of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia. It was the focus of Tolstoy's voluminous War and Peace.

Let's hope this medical university controversy ends quickly and does not generate unnecessary tomes of words, written or otherwise.

As the prime minister, Abdullah should be allowed to devote his attention and energy to the larger issues affecting the country. He should not have to worry about a simple transfer request of a university lecturer or a scholarship application.

But that was what happened over the past fortnight. Abdullah, together with Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein  and Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh, had to step in to put things right.

On June 13, Dr Shafie approved two years' unpaid leave for Assoc Prof Dr Terence Gomez to take up a post with the United Nations in Geneva.

This followed reports that Dr Gomez had been "forced" to resign from Universiti Malaya because his application for a two-year secondment to take up the UN post had been rejected.

The UM corporate communications office head Che Ramlan A. Rahman had said that the management could not release Dr Gomez, who is known for his academic work on business, politics and corruption, because he was needed at the university.

The case attracted the attention of not just ordinary Malaysians but academicians overseas. It was the kind of publicity that UM, which is celebrating its centenary anniversary, does not need.

The case was badly handled as it was allowed to drag on, leading to numerous letters being posted on the Internet while opposition politicians seized on the issue to point out what it regarded as another case of government inefficiency.

The fact is that it has nothing to do with policies, but just a simple case of poor decision-making.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin too had to step in to make sure that the Public Services Department offered scholarships to the five SPM top scorers who initially failed in their bid.

Believing in fairness, the Umno Youth chief told reporters that he would not forget their names and vowed to resolve their problems.

The good news finally came from MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting who announced that Ng Ee Liang, Desmond Chee and Khaw Chok Tong would study medicine in Australia, Chew Ying Dee would take up pharmacy in Britain, while Teoh Wan Ying was offered to do actuarial science in the United States.

They were not the only ones. Utusan Malaysia reported that Abdul Azim Abdul Rahim, who scored 12A1s, also had his application for a PSD scholarship rejected. He was one of the 25 top performers who received certificates from Hishammuddin last March.

Again, Cabinet members had to intervene to make sure justice prevailed but the question is why Malaysians have to go through this annual charade.

We have drawn up a system where every young Malaysian needs to work hard to prove himself and when he has proven himself, we come up with vague explanations on how he missed by a quarter or half a point.

We can tell these bright sparks that they do not have the X-factor that could have earned them their scholarships or some of us can say that they could always look elsewhere for financial help.

But does Malaysia want to lose these intelligent youngsters to other countries who would readily offer them the scholarships?

The  PSD should be taking every step to keep the best and brightest in Malaysia and not discourage them, let alone reject them.

To their credit, the PSD has been accommodating to many appeals by those rejected the first time.

The action of our leaders has proven that the people can still depend on our moderate leaders to step in when such situations arise, but there is a need to ensure that officials do not carry out actions that harm the ruling party.

On the other hand, students seeking to further their education through such financial support must understand that there are limited resources.

They must learn to be more adaptable to possibilities of rejection and learn to check out alternatives. Parents too can do their part.

Remember, when one door closes, a window of opportunity can open elsewhere.

As Michelle Yeoh once put it, "one can practically smell a fellow Malaysian anywhere when one is overseas".

The last time fellow Malaysians and I sang aloud and with much passion the Negaraku and to raise the Jalur Gemilang was when we sailed on the Sea of Galilee. We were on a Christian pilgrimage in Jerusalem and amidst the spirituality, it warmed our hearts tremendously when we were able to display our national identity in such a manner.

In the run-up to our National Day, it is good that a debate has started over the playing of the national anthem at public events.

We should have no reservations about making it a practice for the national anthem to be played at all major sports and political events, irrespective of whether they are organised by the Government  or private  sector.

There is no reason why the practice should be restricted to school assemblies, the television and radio stations, and the weekly gathering of civil servants at the various ministries.

The national flag should also be flown by motorists, not just during the National Day celebrations, but at all times.

For a start, our leaders should take the lead by encouraging such a practice.

They should display these little flags on their cars, not just their official Perdana black cars but also their private cars.

But having said that, I hope our leaders and civil servants do not get too carried away in their efforts to promote the anthem and the flag.

Standing at attention and singing the national anthem do not make anyone a patriotic person. For example, a corrupt politician, who has been putting his fingers into the public coffers, surely cannot be considered a patriotic person.

Likewise, a Malaysian who is prepared to sacrifice national interest for foreigners, either for monetary or political interests, cannot claim to be loyal to our beloved country even if he has the Jalur Gemilang flying in his garden.

To put it simply, we should not measure the patriotism of Malaysians by the flying of flags or how they respond to the Negaraku. It would be a shame if that is how we gauge the level of loyalty.

We cannot force patriotism down the people's throat. I dare say that almost all Malay- sians are loyal to the country.

As much as the opposition politicians are sometimes labelled as anti-national and disloyal, the fact is that loyalty to the country does not mean loyalty to the ruling party. It's two different things.

The current issue is the playing of the national anthem in cinemas.

Although there was some confusion initially, it is good that Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir has clarified that the singing of the national anthem before movie screenings would not be appropriate.

"Negaraku should only be sung at appropriate times and only when the occasion calls for it," he told reporters.

Many young Malaysians may not be aware of it but during the 1960s, the national anthem was played in cinemas.

And during those turbulent times, when the country was fighting communists and communalists, not everyone stood up when it was played. Some sat in defiance, ignoring the stares of other cinema-goers.

But in current day situations, I cannot imagine myself standing up, with my hands by my side, as the Negaraku is played before the movie comes on.

And as soon as it is over, it's back to business, watching Kungfu Hustle or the latest SenarioXX , with my hands in the popcorn packet this time.

But playing the national anthem at stadiums, particularly at sports event, is entirely different. We want to build up the passion, so to speak, before a game with another country.

Games involving fellow Malaysian teams should also include this ritual. Even in the United States and many European countries, the national anthem is played before a game starts.

On a trip to Thailand recently, I was surprised to find shoppers and traders standing in respect when the Thai national anthem was played at the closing time of Chatuchak market.

To put it in context, the current debate has helped many of us reflect on what it means to be a citizen of this blessed nation. I believe we should all be thankful and proud that we are Malaysians.

As we prepare to celebrate our 48th Merdeka Day on Aug 31, I believe all Malaysians already know how to stand up when the national anthem is played. We not only stand up for Negaraku, but we all truly stand up for our country.

Foreign newsmen attending the 58th World Newspaper Congress and 12th World Editors Forum in Seoul last week may not even have noticed what nationality kim chi they were being served but to the South Korean reporters and traders at the local markets, it was a hot issue indeed.

The South Koreans themselves, of course, are no strangers to making imitations of branded products like Louis Vuitton and Chanel. But even in this world of fakes, the traders at Itaewon, where one can buy such products, say that China-made imitations are also making their way there.

The world, including Malaysia, must wake up to the reality that China has become the world's largest producer of almost everything.

Many factories in Malaysia, including several in Penang, have relocated to China to take advantage of its cheaper labour.

Chinese workers are not merely the low-skilled ones but also well-trained personnel in science and engineering. It produces 250,000 engineering graduates each year. For comparison, India produces 150,000 a year.

One big news item last week was China's decision to scrap its concessions on textiles to avert a trade war with the United States and Europe.

The US and Europe, alarmed over the Chinese inroads, have taken steps to restrict imports of Chinese clothing and textiles. It's simply a protectionist action on the part of the West but China has correctly played down the issue, preferring not to fight a war it cannot win.

It is interesting to note that the focus on economic growth – with GDP expanding at more than 8% a year – remains the main agenda for the government and people of China. Instead of constantly patting themselves on the back and seeking attention, Chinese entrepreneurs have cleverly projected themselves as weak Third World players, even as they surge to become dominant global players at the same time.

All this is taking place in an increasingly competitive world where countries which cannot change will lag behind.

It is said that nations which build fortresses will remain stagnant while those prepared to move, change and adapt will become strong.

The question is whether Malaysia is ready for all these high-speed economic changes taking place around the world.

Our leaders, no doubt, are fully aware of the consequences of lagging behind.

The government intends to get rid of the subsidy mentality and dependence on crutches but there is obviously resistance. Such stubborn mindsets have to be tackled. But time waits for no one. The economic challenge to Malaysians no longer comes from a Malay, a Chinese or an Indian but from China, India and the rest of the world.

In an increasingly connected world, the entry of China and India would have a tremendous impact on Malaysia.

There is no way we can take them on but we can learn to gain from them and treat these two giants as partners rather than competitors.

Our Malaysian politicians need to lead the people, regardless of their race, to face these global changes. We have spent too much time on issues which benefit no one. Instead of playing to the gallery by bringing up issues of the past that smack of communalism, we need to move on.

In this context, the government must be commended for taking steps to make Mandarin and Tamil part of the curriculum in national schools.

There has been talk that the government is prepared to even hire teachers from China and India if there is a shortage.

We must not be afraid of learning Mandarin and Tamil because these two languages are international languages. It is to the advantage of our young ones, regardless of their race, to know these two and even more languages if we wish to do business with these two economic giants.

Malaysian businessmen, besides Singaporeans, enjoy an advantage in China and India because of the ethnic and linguistic links.

For that matter, Arabic too should be an elective subject in schools and universities as West Asia, especially Dubai, is also moving at a furious pace.

The emphasis on English needs to be further encouraged, not stifled, if we wish to move on.

Our leaders should not be cowed by those who, in the name of nationalism, selfishly limit the advancement of English in our education system.

Last week, a friend gave me a large copper-tooled scene of The Last Supper. It was made at a factory in Guangdong, China.

The statues of many Hindu deities on sale in Singapore, according to The Straits Times, are also from China.

Nothing seems sacred any more and Malaysia had better wake up to that fact.