Their worry is that sharks will disappear, just like the
dinosaurs, although I am not sure whether any caveman tried eating dinosaur
soup.

The campaign targets school children who have been handed pledge cards to say
“no'' to shark's fin soup.

At fashionable cafes where teenagers spend more money on coffee than shark's
fin soup, a music video called Nobody Loves You has been screened to dispel the
myth that sharks are fearsome man-eaters.

Hong Kong actor Tong Leung has become the colony's campaign spokesman.

The lobbyists received another boost when Taiwanese President Chen Shui Bian's
daughter, Chen Hsing Yu, wanted the soup off the menu at her engagement
dinner.

Central to the emotionally-charged campaign are video shots of the finning and
dumping of hapless finless sharks back into the sea.

The cruelty angle is being used to mobilise public opinion against the killing
of sharks. There are endless statistics to back their case.

The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES) has also joined in the fray.

At the recent meeting of CITES in Kenya, Asean and many developing nations
argued that sharks were not endangered but Britain, the United States and
Australia decided three of the over-400 shark species were endangered.

The developing nations argued that sharks were by-catch, which meant most of
the shark fins sold in shops were from small fishermen.

But the debate over the Chinese delicacy has become more complicated as
cultural values surface.

Shark's fin soup has been a gourmet's delight in China since the Han dynasty,
over 2,200 years ago. The West considers the consumption of shark fins a
wasteful delight of the Chinese.

To add salt to injury, these Western groups are telling us to replace shark
fins with ginseng chicken in fatt tiau cheong (Buddha Jumps Over the Wall).

Others have even suggested leaving out abalone as well, saying it is going to
become endangered too.

Those who think the campaign is no more than just cultural imperialism against
the Chinese have questioned why these groups are not making the same efforts to
campaign against bull-fighting and fox-hunting.

The supporters of shark's fin soup point out that man-eating sharks were
unintentional by-catch of commercial fleets using long lines of hooks to catch
tuna and salmon, which are mostly for the Western market.

Sharks, they said, do not travel in shoals and thus cannot be depleted in the
short to medium term.

By-catch sharks were also dead when hauled up, thus the emotions attached to
finning were unjustified.

Few people in the West, they said, made a fuss when 1,000 porpoises drowned in
British nets each year in the North Sea and 7,000 more in Danish nets. Or when 90,000
seals and pups were shot or clubbed to death for their fur in the North
Atlantic.

With over 13 water species becoming extinct in North America since 1900, the
traditionalists are asking why these Western groups are making so much fuss
over a soup for a Chinese wedding.

Describing it as “selective amnesia,'' these Chinese traditionalists want the
environmentalists to put their house in order first.

Call it xenophobia or whatever, but there is this nagging suspicion, even if
unjustified, that the campaign is part of the agenda against growing Chinese
strength.

First, Britain blames a piece of meat in London's Chinatown for the Mad Cow
disease. Then the attacks against soya sauce makers – supported by the western
corn oil manufacturers – and then the alleged discovery of mercury substance in
shark fins from Thailand.

All these may be coincidences but China-bashing has become a Western
preoccupation these days.

The West has made no pretence that it is worried about China's growing economic
and political strength and anything remotely Chinese.

Issues such as the Dalai Lama, Falun Gong and China's bid to host the Olympics
do not affect me directly. But, like many other Malaysians, I cannot stomach
the fight against shark's fin soup.

The whole debate has been over-blown by idealistic gwei lo groups.

We have suffered enough having to eat starchy “shark's fin soup'' in which not
a single shred of fin can be found.

The debate will definitely continue over whether a living shark is more
dangerous than a dead shark whose fins make delicious soup.

It may be environmentally incorrect to enjoy shark's fin soup but the campaign
isn't likely to change local tastebuds.

MCA officials said the delegates may have their
differences over the controversial purchase of Chinese dailies Nanyang Siang
Pau and China Press but party unity was still in their hearts.

Said secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Ting Chew Peh: “Whenever the speakers
mentioned party unity, the delegates would applause.''

The two vice-presidents are seen as the best bet to take over the helm but they
are also perceived as arch rivals.

Ong is aligned to party president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik while Chan has
been groomed by deputy president Datuk Lim Ah Lek.

At the EGM, a total of 1,176 delegates (53.3%) of the 2,216 delegates present
voted in favour of the deal while 1,019 (46.2%) opposed. There were 12 spoilt
votes and nine abstentions.

As the party leaders analysed the implications of the bruising EGM, some
suggested that moves must be made for both sides to get to the negotiation
table.

Supporters of Dr Ling said the win was a clear endorsement of the deal but
admitted that they were uncomfortable with the narrow margin.

“But we should be clear that those who support Dr Ling may have disagreement
only on this issue," one Selangor leader stressed. "They still back
him."

There were also mixed feelings in Ah Lek's camp.

While some like deputy Wanita chief Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yew Kew have openly
expressed disappointment, believing the acquisition will be rejected, many are
jubilant at the slim margin, saying it was a peek at the outcome of next year's
party elections.

Others quietly conceded that they felt dejected at the defeat because of
mobilised support from many groups.

Both sides are, however, concerned at the possible scenarios for the MCA if
efforts are not made to patch up the differences.

Besides members, party leaders from both sides have been getting phone calls
from Chinese community leaders urging them to work on a formula to unite the
opposing camps.

“These are people who have no interest or political agenda except to see a
united MCA,'' one businessman said.

It isn't clear how Dr Ling and Ah Lek will react to such peace efforts and
whether the timing is right. A good move taken at a wrong time will not be
successful.

Any reservation is understandable, given the failure of earlier succession
talks.

Many among the grassroots members also hope for a return to the negotiation
table.

Fresh input, fresh formulae and even fresh mediators may be necessary to get
the talks going.

For that to take place, everyone must keep an open mind and there must be
sincerity on both sides.

A moratorium could be initiated to create a conducive atmosphere for such
discussions to begin.

It will not be easy but if the leaders are serious about forging unity in the
interest of the party, community and Barisan Nasional, then they must put on
their thinking caps.

The statements from various leaders over the past few days have been
encouraging.

First, Lim said he supported calls to consolidate the party while Dr Ling said
he was open to suggestions to forge unity and strengthen the party.

Then Chan said the Nanyang issue was over and that moves should be made to
unite the party.

On Thursday, MCA Youth chief Datuk Ong Tee Keat said the Youth wing accepted
the decision of the EGM.

There were initial fears that the Youth central committee meeting on Thursday
would be stormy.

Supporters of Dr Ling had questioned the legality of the Youth EGM on June 24,
where the delegates had voted against the acquisition of Nanyang.

A vote of no-confidence was also passed against Youth secretary-general Yew
Teong Look.

A compromise was apparently struck before the meeting, where Dr Ling's
supporters dropped moves to vote on its legality.

It was alleged that the Youth EGM was illegal because the 101/2 day notice was
not met and non-delegates were purportedly present.

Another issue was whether the resolution against Yew was proper when the EGM
was convened to discuss only one matter.

Questioned at a press conference held around midnight, Tee Keat told the press
“not to split hair'' over Yew's position.

Not everyone will be happy with Tee Keat's moves but it is commendable when
taking into account the larger picture.

There is little point in squabbling over what has happened. It is more
important for the party to bury the past and move ahead.

The spirit of consolidation must continue in the interest of the party and the
Chinese community.

Although politicians must be prepared for such robust
campaigning, they must remember that this is neither a party election nor a
general election. It is an internal matter; the “enemy'' is not the
Opposition. It is merely two sides in the party with sharp differences over how
the controversy should be resolved.

Dissenting views are part of democracy and should be tolerated. Similarly, no
one should forget the question of party discipline. In any organisation, once a
decision is taken, it must be respected even if we don't like it. Equally
important is the need to protect party dignity and integrity without allowing
the party's image to be tarnished.

The enemies of the MCA must not be allowed to exploit the differences within
the party. Once the decision is announced today, every effort must be made by
all levels of the party to unite. Without doubt, there will be lingering
mistrust and unhappiness but time heals all wounds.

There are no victors and losers in this matter. The delegates have been asked to
decide only on one issue – whether to support or reject the takeover of Nanyang
Siang Pau and China Press.

As such, party leaders must not think of a witchhunt once the EGM is over. They
should not be talking of sacking or isolating anyone. Such talk will only play
into the hands of the party's political enemies.

Party leaders may have opposing views on the Nanyang issue but no one can argue
about preserving party unity.

The struggle to achieve the aspirations of the Chinese community is the agenda
of MCA members. Irrespective of whether the acquisition will be accepted or
rejected, they must now work together if they are sincere about serving the
community.

There are urgent tasks ahead for the MCA, including forging closer ties with
the Chinese guilds and associations. These institutions are an integral part of
the community and have an important link with the party.

These Chinese groups must realise that the MCA is a part of the ruling
coalition and that it is the second strongest party in Barisan Nasional.

Chinese groups, with links to Suqiu (the Malaysian Elections Appeals
Committee), cannot be served by joining hands with the reformasi group or the
Opposition.

The Chinese community has always been practical and realistic. The guilds, if
they believe that they represent the community, must be equally realistic. MCA
leaders have proven their mettle by standing for elections in Chinese-majority
constituencies.

Multi-racial parties like Gerakan and the DAP are now claiming they represent
the Chinese community because it suits them. Non-government organisations are
also saying they speak for the community.

A Chinese social science lecturer, who campaign for PAS, has been introduced by
the Islamist party as “a Chinese community leader.''

But the bottom line is that the MCA has never made any apologies for its role
in safeguarding the community's interest.

The party has been criticised numerous times in the nation's history but its
track record speaks for itself.
From securing citizenship for the community to setting up Tunku Abdul
Rahman College to the Langkawi Project, the focus of the MCA has been
consistent.

The community understands that when they have a problem, they turn to the
Public Complaints and Services Department at the MCA headquarters for help
because they know that help is available.

There will always be critics but few doers. Those who work will make mistakes
and be faulted by others. Those who don't work will never make mistakes.

Except for the MCA, no other parties or groups have the capability to mobilise
the community for any project.

Today, the party is under siege because of one issue.

Despite the bitter differences, the MCA has proven that it practices democracy
and the EGM is evidence of this.

The feelings of Umno members is not surprising.

One newspaper analyst correctly said that “many of them probably are looking
too much into this decision and thinking about what Umno will look like in the
future.''

But Umno has, in fact, accepted many non-Muslim bumiputras into the party since
it decided to expand to Sabah.

When the United Sabah National Organisation disbanded in 1991, its members,
including Chinese, joined Umno.

It is only natural for Umno members to take time to adjust themselves to
changes.

The decision by Dr Mahathir is highly commendable. It speaks volumes of Umno's
openness and far-sightedness.

The ordinary members may not realise it but Umno has taken another positive
step towards nation-building.

The MCA and MIC have, in fact, quietly taken similar steps to de-communalise
their memberships.

Last week, a Chinese delegate was featured attending the MIC general assembly
in Johor Baru. He heads the Kupang MIC branch chairman in Kedah and is a
delegate from the Baling division.

In the case of MCA, there are already Indian and Thai members, mostly from
Penang, Kedah and Kelantan.

They may be token members in their respective parties at this point in time,
but an evolution is slowly taking place.

The Malay-dominated Parti Keadilan Nasional has several non-Malays in its
leadership line-up and are accepted by the Malay members.

The membership of PAS is restricted to only Muslims but it has toyed with the
idea of letting non-Muslims become associate members.

The idea has, however, not taken off because of purported unacceptance at
grassroots level.

The other two opposition parties, the DAP and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, is
multi-racial in set-up but dominated by Chinese and Malays respectively.

The de-communalising of Malaysian politics is a natural process. Communal
politics will lose its appeal in years to come.

Communal-based parties like Umno, MCA and MIC may adopt a non-communal approach
in their politics but the racial identification is something these parties will
have to relook at in future.

At this juncture, the leaders and members of the big three would certainly want
to maintain the status quo. For operational purposes, these ethnic structures
enable the parties to mobilise their strength more effectively.

To project a more multi-racial image, Barisan Nasional should be
emphasised.

The Barisan supreme council now meets only once or twice a year, as required
under its constitution, or when the need arises.

Although most of the Barisan component party leaders are represented in the
Cabinet, which meets every Wednesday, it would be good for the Barisan
leadership to meet every month.

The Barisan supreme council could meet after or before Umno supreme council
meetings.

More press statements could be jointly issued by the Barisan leaders to project
unity in the coalition.

At grassroots level, Barisan committees could carry out more projects and activities.

The unprecedented move by the Seputih Umno division to invite MCA
vice-president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to open its Youth and Wanita meetings
should be emulated by others.

Last week, the Sabak Bernam MCA division broke a 50-year-old tradition when its
meeting was opened by the constituency MP, Datuk Zainal Dahlan.

The Barisan Youth executive committee has also shown its ability to handle the
controversial university quota issue sensibly.

Instead of playing to the gallery to score points, Umno Youth emphasised the
need to maintain the quota system and, at the same time, called for the high
achievers to be admitted into university.

Barisan Youth leaders visited Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohamad as a
collective group to resolve the issue.

These are commendable efforts for BN to evolve into a more integrated party in
image and activities.

The notion of a coalition should not be projected only during elections but
must be seen to function as a cohesive unit at all times.

By meeting more often and regularly as a party rather than a coalition, it
would serve as a reminder to Malaysians that the country is led by a moderate
multi-racial force.

That aside, the Election Commission must try to draw up more racially-mixed
constituencies when it begins its redelineation exercise of electoral
boundaries.

Politicians, regardless of their parties, should no longer bring up issues that
only interest one particular race during election campaigns. That would reduce
the use of communal and religious issues.

No Malaysian should be fearful of moves to reduce communal politics because the
old ways will not remain forever.

It is better for the parties concerned to be far-sighted and take the necessary
steps to remain relevant.

When the various sides have expressed their views, there
has to be a meeting point for the different perspectives to converge.

In Malaysia, the message is clear: no one race can have everything. Politics is
all about accommodation and compromise.

In recent years, issues that were once considered taboo are now being discussed
more openly.

But it is never easy. Last week, an opposition politician lost his cool when he
was asked by a newsman whether his statements on the university quota would
lead to racial unhappiness.

The seasoned politician, who is used to provoking government politicians,
became angry when he found himself at the receiving end.

The reporter's newspaper sadly responded in an emotional manner.

In a democracy, there will always be many perspectives. But we Malaysians,
newspapers included, need to always remind ourselves that we must be sensitive
towards the feelings of all.

Non-Malays today read Bahasa Malaysia newspapers while the views of Chinese
dailies are highlighted in Bahasa and English publications. In the case of the
English press, it has a heavier responsibility as it is read by all
races.

At the same time, we must also bear in mind that the stand of these newspapers,
Bahasa or Chinese, reflects the sentiments of the majority of their readers and
must thus be respected.

The reminder of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy,
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, on national unity is thus timely.

Such reminders are necessary as many of us sometimes become careless or
emotional when discussing national issues.

Dr Mahathir described national unity as “an invaluable gift which cannot be
measured in material gains.''

Malaysians, especially politicians and pressure groups, often do not know where
to stop.

Rational discussion is good but a line must also be drawn, as in a game with
rules and regulations.

Some of us do not understand the difference between making appeals and making
demands. A polemic on a specific topic can degenerate into other issues and,
soon, the original topic is lost as emotions flare.

National unity, as Abdullah said, must never be taken for granted because if we
do, we open our doors to racial intolerance and even ethnic chauvinism.

Speaking at a forum on national unity, Abdullah expressed his concern that the
willingness to compromise may not be shared by the younger generation.

Without the baggage of the May 13 incident, there is always the misguided sense
of bravado.

Abdullah said: “There is now an increasing number of Malay youths who regard
the policies of the New Economic Policy as bunk and outdated.

“They say they are ready for meritocracy and yet they are, as a group, still
mediocre compared to non-Malays.

“There are non-Malays who also question the social contract as Malaysians,
born in Malaysia, educated in Malaysia and feeling every bit as Malaysian as
the Malay.

“Many non-Malay youths demand that they be given the same privileges as
Malays. On the other spectrum, there are still Malay youths caught up in the
nationalism of the 1960s and 70s who, instead of focusing on strategies to
empower the Malays, call for more assistance and more crutches to be
given.''

Abdullah has correctly felt the pulse of many Malaysians but, as he said,
national unity and nation-building are painfully slow processes.

However, Malaysians should never underestimate themselves. We have shown the ability
to accommodate each other.

Since independence, the country has accommodated, instead of assimilated, the
cultures of all ethnic groups.

The country's leadership has been tolerant, compromising and open. Although
Umno, MCA and MIC are communal-based parties, they have adopted a non-communal
approach in its politics.

There is a sense of a common purpose, common destiny and a common flag. In the
years to come, it would not be a surprise if the component parties evolve to
become a singular multi-racial party.

So long as we remain committed to the ideals of cultural diversity, it will not
be impossible to attain the goals of national unity.

Five also had their rights to vote forfeited and their
rights to contest party elections suspended for six years.

Those suspended were charged with breaking the party's code of ethics by taking
part in money politics during the election of divisional leaders. They were
accused of giving money, throwing parties or providing overseas trips as a way
to influence internal elections. One of the accused was a state executive
councillor.

The fact is that money politics is merely a polite word for corruption.

As Dr Mahathir himself admitted recently, the perception of many Malaysians is
that Umno has been riddled with money politics.

Rightly or wrongly, many people, including even Umno members, assume that
joining the party is one way of becoming rich.

Umno aspirants are prepared to fork out millions of ringgit to buy votes,
believing that they will reap profits from their investment.

These crooked politicians believe that if they are elected as division heads,
they would stand a better chance of being picked to contest a state or
parliament seat.

Some Umno members even believe that their membership is enough to win them a
contract for a project.

On Monday, Dr Mahathir said Umno must be cleansed of money politics, adding
that the people would never believe that corrupt leaders could set up a good
government to serve them effectively.

The people, he rightly pointed out, will not pick the party leaders if they
think that these candidates are corrupt. He added that Umno would lose members
if its members did not close ranks after the election process.

In the past, Umno members used to laugh at the fisticuffs and chair-throwing at
MIC meetings.

But such squabbles no longer take place in MIC meetings only but also in Umno
meetings.

Over the past weeks, there have been reports of fights and even one reported
stabbing.

In Libaran, Sabah, police had to be brought in as tension ran high over a hotly
contested division election.

Money politics is not the only problem afflicting Umno. Party discipline seems
to be badly missing from the party now. Dr Mahathir has correctly pointed out
that greed is the problem.

Umno leaders cannot hope to win the hearts and minds of the young if they
perceive that self-interest is the only preoccupation of the party leaders. The
party's history of struggle against colonialism will not be enough to convince
the young to join the party.

Umno cannot live on the glory of its past; it has to prove to the young that it
is still relevant and that it feels and believes in the sentiments of the
young.

As the backbone of the Barisan Nasional, it has been successful in producing a
new class of confident, educated and successful group of Malay middle class.
Many of these young professionals, however, do not believe that they have to be
thankful and obligated to the Government for their positions and it will be the
Government's mistake if it continues to remind them.

The young Malays are concerned with issues such as corruption, justice and
freedom of expression and, unless these concerns are addressed, the opposition
will continue to chip away at the support for Umno.

That aside, the leaders of Umno Youth deserve to play a bigger role in the
Government. In comparison with Parti Keadilan Nasional and even PAS, many Umno
leaders are already past 50 years old.

Umno Youth leaders have proven their maturity in handling controversial issues.
In the case of the failure of top non-bumiputra students to get entry into
universities, Umno Youth has demonstrated its moderation through its
statements.

They have come out better than some yesteryear heroes who have attempted to
return to mainstream Umno politics by trying to play the nationalistic card to
garner support.

The statements of these Umno Youth leaders, in calling for more non-bumiputra
students to be admitted into public universities, reflect their calibre as potential
leaders not just for the Malays but for all Malaysians.

The task of Umno has become tougher because of increasing competition from
Keadilan and PAS.

But unlike these two parties, Umno continues to receive the support of not just
Malays but other ethnic groups who are more comfortable with its brand of
politics of consensus.

As Umno celebrates its 55th anniversary, its leaders and members have to bear
in mind that only they can prove to Malaysians that the party has not reached
retirement age but is still relevant.

The fact is that Form Six has lost its appeal. An SPM
student can enrol in a private college to do what is called a “foundation
year.'' The student then proceeds to the second year of the degree
programme.

Others qualify for a diploma before entering second year. On graduation, they
hold a diploma and a degree.

Sixth formers sit for the STPM exam at the end of two years of secondary school
education. After getting their results, they begin applying for places in local
universities.

Even if they have decent results, there is no guarantee of a place in
university. For non-Malays, competition is tough because of limited places
owing to the quota system.

Some of those who are successful are offered disciplines they are not
interested in or are over-qualified for.

I know of an arts student who was accepted into then Universiti Pertanian
Malaysia. It was miserable for her during the first few weeks because she was
in a science course.

Finally, she was accepted by Tunku Abdul Rahman College where she took up
accounting. Today, she is a qualified accountant.

If there had been no option available, she could have been a drop-out.

There is much that does not make sense in our education system, particularly
when 500 top-scorers can't get into university.

The problem has been aggravated because of the unusual number of students with
good results.

This situation is partly due to many students having skipped Remove Class,
resulting in more applicants.

Even TAR College has found that it cannot cope with the large number of
applicants.

To complicate matters, it has been reported that there are 7,168 places for
bumiputras but there are not enough eligible students. There are now calls that
these vacancies be released to non-bumiputras.

The vacancies must have come about because bumiputra top-scorers would have
been offered scholarships or loans to study overseas.

In the case of non-bumiputras, matriculation courses had been exclusively for
bumiputras until a few years ago.

The controversy, which also occurred last year, could have been avoided if
there is fairness, flexibility and reasonable implementation of the quota
system.

Of the 500 last year, only about 100 gained entry into local universities after
lodging appeals.

According to the MCA, which highlighted their plight, the 500 cases included 25
students who scored 10As, 59 with 9As, 80 with 8As, 79 with 7As, 57 with 6As and
60 with 5As.

The rights and privileges of bumiputras must not be questioned. The affirmative
action and quota system are necessary to help disadvantaged Malay students,
especially those from the rural areas.

But it is injustice when bright applicants are deprived of higher education on
the grounds that there are only limited places for a particular ethnic
group.

If the Education Ministry officials have their way, they would want our
students to go through the two years of Form Six.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given an assurance
that all top-scorers will get places in university.

Following complaints from many bright applicants, the ministry also announced
that those with 10As and above will get places but it was non-committal on
those with 9As and below.

The time has come for the Government to consider abolishing Form Six or
restricting it to one year of studies.

Today, many children begin pre-schooling as early as three years old. Most
children are able to read and write before they enter Year One.

If our children can begin Year One at the age of five or six, instead of the
present seven, they would be able to complete primary education by the time
they are 10.

Our youngsters can then complete their secondary education and subsequent
tertiary education earlier.

The Education Ministry needs to concentrate on the core subjects – particularly
Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics and Science – to give our students the
competitive edge.

Completing tertiary education earlier would help to boost our human
resource.

There is little point in burdening our students with too many subjects.

Worse still is for the education system to continue producing students with no
aptitude in mathematics or are unable to write and speak English
properly.

As nations become more competitive, it is more pertinent for our students to be
fluent in a third language with economic value.

Internet training, which is offered by many Chinese schools starting at Year
One, should be made compulsory for all.

Education today is no longer the business of the Government and educationists.
If we want to gear ourselves to face the impact of globalisation, we need to
rethink our mindset and policies.

Among the failures in national schools that he cited was
the over-emphasis on matters relating to religion. As a result, many non-Malay
students do not enrol in these schools.

This, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, had defeated the purpose of national
schools which had been set up to encourage students of various races to learn
together to enhance racial unity and integration.

Dr Mahathir is correct in saying that the system in these schools has been
found wanting due to ineffective approaches towards the learning process.

Students in Chinese schools, on the other hand, excelled in their studies, he
added.

He said national schools placed less emphasis on education and disciplinary
matters.

His remarks were followed by Negri Sembilan state executive councillor Zakaria
Nordin's claim that there were racist teachers in the state.

These teachers in national schools, he said, made insensitive racial remarks
without considering the feelings of the other races.

It has been a week of bad publicity for national schools but in all fairness,
there are still plenty of teachers who take their role as educators
seriously.

Many brave the difficult living conditions in rural areas to nurture the minds
of the young because they love their work.

But national schools, we cannot deny, have lost their shine. Many parents,
including Malays, send their children to Chinese schools because they believe
the quality of education there is higher.

In addition to the emphasis on Maths, many parents feel their children must
learn to speak and write Chinese because it is regarded as a language with
economic value.

While our educationists brag about smart schools, most Chinese schools in
cities already conduct compulsory computer classes in Year One.

These facilities are made available, not from government support, but through
community help.

Such self-reliance, which can be frustrating at times, has also resulted in
more resilient students who learn at a young age that they must stand on their
own two feet and not expect hand-outs.

Besides dedicated teachers, parents with high expectations automatically push
their children to excel. The end result is that everyone gains from the
excellent academic performance.

For example, it is common to hear of parents being hauled up by teachers
because their children are average performers.

One Chinese school in Petaling Jaya has such a reputation that parents are as
nervous as their children when they turn up to collect annual report
cards.

Parents get on-the-spot lectures from teachers if there are unsatisfactory
marks on the cards.

There are instances where parents camp overnight outside the premises of
Chinese schools just to ensure their child gets placed in a "good"
class while others forge home addresses and use political connections to secure
places for their children.

Needless to say, the vernacular education system has contributed much to the
human resource of our country.

It must never be seen as an obstacle to national unity. The weaknesses of our
education system is just one contributing factor to the lack of national
integration.

National policies and laws, perceived to be unfair, also have an impact on
racial unity among Malaysians.

In the past, many of us had the privilege of attending English-medium schools
where students were of all races. Not only do we still remember fondly our
friends of various races but we remain proud of our English.

For those from Christian missionary schools, there was a sense of belonging and
mission.

The old boy togetherness was grounded in many of us and the networking proved
useful in our working life.

Many students ended up as teachers in their alma mater and were dedicated to
their work.

But all that is gone now. Every time a new Education Minister is appointed, we
see numerous changes being made, from school syllabus to school holidays.

Then there are also misguided bureaucrats who throw in their racial prejudices
at the implementation stage and sometimes ruin the noble values of
policies.

Dr Mahathir's wish to see unity in schools is to be commended but we need to
take one step at a time.

What is urgently required is to bring back quality teaching in national
schools. Teaching must be made an attractive career. Teachers deserve better
salaries and better perks.

Our children do not need more subjects and more textbooks. Malaysia must be the
only country where children get up at unearthly hours and go to school pulling
trolley bags.

In most countries, the system merely focuses on the core subjects. In our
attempt to learn more, our students have grasped less.

The Government must seriously consider bringing back English-medium schools as
there will be many parents who will want to enrol their children there. Even
Malay groups have appealed to the Government to consider re-introducing
English-medium schools.

Leave the Chinese and Tamil schools alone because their places are guaranteed
under the Federal Constitution.

Any suggestion of introducing a single medium of instruction, no matter how
subtle, will not go down well.

The teaching of Pupils Own Language (POL) can never be a substitute for the
learning of Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools where the learning
environment is more conducive.

Our politicians, bureaucrats and educationists should just get back to the
basics of education before they talk of the larger issues.

While the DAP and PAS may have obediently applied for
permits to publish their newsletters, the reformasi movement has ignored such
bureaucratic requirements. Books and other publications have appeared without
printing permits and are being sold openly.

However, the hundreds of reformasi sites on the Internet to reach its
supporters have been the most effective communication tool. The Harakah
electronic version, for example, even has a web TV. In contrast, the
pro-government sites have been weak, dull and unimaginative.

It cannot be denied that the Information Ministry, through its television and
radio stations, has not been able to reach out to the public as effectively as
planned.

The reason is simple – viewership is declining because the credibility of these
stations is low. The authorities do not seem to understand that hard propaganda
material can no longer work.

On April 1, RTM was given a tall order: be credible and objective. No one can
blame the staff if they think it's an April Fool's joke.

As a government entity, the staff are expected to carry out certain directives
but leaders must understand that unless the station is prepared to be more
subtle in its approach, it will never win the trust of its viewers.

Government politicians must understand that they should give some leeway and
flexibility for such information tools to carry out their tasks in the wake of
competition from other avenues, including the Internet and cable TV.

Newspapers can ignore the Opposition but it is a journalistic sin when
statements are distorted and fabricated. One vernacular newspaper had to
apologise recently because of poor or over-zealous reporting of an event.

Age has also come into play. Keadilan's main leaders are much younger than
those in the upper echelon of the Barisan Nasional component parties. Many
Keadilan leaders are less than 40 years old.

One contributing factor of the Barisan defeat in the Lunas by-election was the
age difference of the candidates. The Keadilan candidate was 37 years old while
the Barisan contender was 59.

Previously, the Opposition had fought entirely on its own but now Keadilan has
help from outside the country. Proof of this was when then US Vice-President Al
Gore openly endorsed the reformasi movement in Kuala Lumpur.

These are new situations which the Government face. It requires fresh methods
and strategies if it wants to win back the minds and hearts of those it has
lost.

Barisan needs to reform itself to meet the people's aspirations and become a
more effective platform for greater libertarianism.

More importantly, the old guards must discard the use of communal appeal
because the Opposition has portrayed itself to be more multi-racial, at least
in appearance.

It does not make sense for some politicians to treat other ethnic groups as the
bogeymen in efforts to win the Malay votes. Umno's main problem is not the
Chinese or Indians but the Malay voters.

In all fairness, we must acknowledge the measures taken to restore confidence
in the judiciary. It is evident that changes are taking place.

The Barisan formula has worked so well that the opposition front has modelled
itself after the coalition, unashamedly calling itself Barisan
Alternatif.

The DAP, for example, has even insisted that the consensus method be practised
in the opposition front to ensure that component parties have equal powers.

In the case of Barisan Nasional, all 14 component parties have equal voting
rights although Umno is the dominant party. For instance, all it takes is one
vote to stop any application to join the coalition.

Discipline within the Barisan ranks is also stronger than that of the
Opposition.

The framework of Barisan has already given it an edge. What it should do now is
to rejuvenate itself and allow the young to shoulder more responsibilities in
politics.

Those in their 30s should be entrusted to run the various bodies to inject
freshness, such as the setting up of Puteri Umno to woo the young.

Capable young members, with fresh and bold ideas, should now be groomed and
given the exposure to contest against opposition figures in the next general
election in 2004.

Barisan needs a new image. Umno is now perceived as a vehicle for members to
enrich themselves; there is a need to revive commitment and conviction. Even
top Umno leaders have admitted these problems, particularly the practice of
money politics.

When noble goals are seen as cover-ups for abuses, then Barisan needs to relook
at itself seriously.

New situations require new strategies and that includes a rethink of our laws
and policies to suit present and future needs of our nation.

Rightly, the criteria taken into account would be the
ethnic composition in the area concerned. This is to ensure that the
sensitivities of every race are taken into account.

In Shah Alam, for over a decade, the Catholic community has been waiting for
approval to build a church. Until today, their prayers have yet to be
answered.

The reason for the long wait can be attributed to the fickle-mindedness of the
Selangor government.

An application to build the church was first made in 1977 when the Mentri Besar
was Datuk Hormat Rafei.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib then withdrew the approval
following objections from some residents who felt that a church in the area was
inappropriate.

The stalemate continued until Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar approved the
application. Preliminary work was carried out last year and tenders were
called.

On Dec 20, the state government, now under Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed
Khir Toyo, withdrew approval for the construction of the church on a piece of
land opposite the Montfort Boys' Town and offered an alternative site, about
2km away.

The church committee said the alternative site lacked infrastructure and no
construction work could be carried out for at least three or four more
years.

The church is crying foul, saying that the state government had created
legitimate expectations among the Catholic community in Shah Alam.

With the building site reportedly twice relocated, the case has gone to court.
The church filed an application for a judicial review and the case is scheduled
for hearing on July 26.

These legal proceedings are meant to obtain leave from the High Court to
challenge the decision of the Selangor government which approved the original
site.

What the church is attempting to do is ask the court to set aside decisions
which infringe on established legal principles, including administrative
decisions.

The matter is now best left to the wisdom of the judges.

But there is a need for an acceptable framework to facilitate the planning of
places of worship for non-Muslims.

State authorities must seek the views of the Malaysian Consultative Council of
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism and relevant bodies on such
guidelines.

State authorities cannot act unilaterally, otherwise they will infringe on the
constitutional rights of non-Muslims.

There has been some degree of unhappiness over the building of places of
worship because of alleged interference from overzealous officials and
politicians.

In some cases, the actions of some bureaucrats run contrary to the policy of
the Federal Government.

The right forum to discuss matters of land and places of worship is the
National Council of Local Government, which meets twice a year and is chaired
by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah is a fair-minded person and Malaysians believe that he will give just
consideration to the sentiments of moderate Malaysians.

It is good for proper places of worship to be built for the spiritual needs of
non-Muslims.

Currently, some churches are operating in shophouses, office complexes and even
cinemas. For some worshippers, these places are not exactly conducive in searching
for peace and calm.

Churches in Malaysia, it appears, have run into more bureaucracy than Chinese
and Indian temples.

Interestingly, 17 years ago, the Sultan of Selangor expressed regret that there
was no place of worship for non-Muslims in the state.

The Star quoted the Ruler as saying on June 17, 1984, that he feared
non-Muslims would eventually have no religious activities. He urged the state
government to remedy the situation before it worsened.

At the same time, he reassured non-Muslims that they were free to practise
their religion without hindrance although Islam was the official religion of
the state.

He said he was aware that portions of land had been identified for non-Muslims
as places of worship but further progress had been blocked.

For Malaysians, such statements from the Sultan, who is now the King and the
Head of Islam, and visits by the Prime Minister to homes of non-Muslims during
festivals speak well for the harmony of a multi-cultural society.

We should consider taking another step forward by setting up an inter-religious
council.

Regular meetings between the consultative council and Islamic bodies could be
held to promote inter-religious understanding.

Bureaucrats and politicians should not underestimate the high degree of
religious tolerance and mutual respect among ordinary Malaysians. It is thus
unjust and unthinkable for anyone to obstruct the rights of any citizen to
practise his religion.