The late Tun Razak is an honourable man who commanded much respect among ALL Malaysians. He was a man with integrity, accountability and magnanimity.

He was a man of few words, but when he spoke most would pay attention and appreciate his articulation.

What can we say of most UMNO leaders nowadays? Flip flopping. Nonsensical. Derogatory. Dishonourable. Suspicious. Prejudicial. Non-accountable. “Ketuanan” bias. Corrupted. Racist. Manipulative.
Subsidy mentality and subsidised. Quotas. Special privileges. Contract hungry. Title hungry. And whatever you care to conceive.

We should do much better than Tun Razak’s time. He would not have wanted us to live in the past, in his time. If we did, it would have meant we had not progressed at all, and Tun would have felt betrayed and disappointed.

Mukriz and his kind had the benefit of an overseas’ education. He should know better what a diverse and open education system could do to the development of the mind and soul of individuals. He could and should not advocate a close and parochial approach. He should not deny others what he and his kind could access and enjoy due to his their fortuity.

Exposing students to more languages than one such as in vernacular schools would enable them to acquire and master languages which would benefit not only themselves, but also the nation. The nation would then be enriched with a pool of resourceful individuals who are proficient not only in Bahasa Malaysia but also English, Mandarin, Tamil, etc.

In this globalised world we need more of such versatile, multilingual, multicultural, and multi talented people.

Could the national primary schools which have suffered the interest, trust and hope of so many people be the choice, especially of citizens who are aspiring for more progress and advancement for their children?

Could the national primary schools cater to the demands and needs of ALL Malaysians in terms of second or third language learning?

Could the national primary schools assure that policies adopted are fair to all, without prejudice or favour?

Could the national primary schools assure that teachers and headmasters regardless of ethnic and religious backgrounds be selected on the basis of merit and aptitude and not on the whim and fancy of interest groups?

Could the education ministry ensure that educational matters be separated from politics and not interfered by third parties who know next to nothing in education?

There are just too many vexing questions than answers which do not make national primary schools the schools of choice.

Unless and until all pertinent issues are addressed there should not be any call to have a single eduction policy which could not meet the desires and aspirations of all segments of society. It would be suicidal and unfair to force what is not acceptable and agreeable on everyone.

In the face of limited options, as far as ordinary folks are concerned, the avenue of a vernacular education which is deemed desirable for their children must not be robbed away from them.

Friends,

Frankly, I do not have a great deal of knowledge about the overall role and part that the late Hon.Tun Abdul Razak Hussein played in Malaya’s and Malaysia’s history.

I shall make an attempt to read more on that to enlighten myself, and hopefully to share pertinent information with you as and when the need arises. Of course, there must be amongst you out there who are well-informed on the subject matter; hopefully you could share relevant info to educate us who are ignorant. TQ!

Having said that, I would like to humbly beg to differ with blanket opinions which may cloud and prejudice actions and decisions made with good intentions then on issues which happened in the years before Merdeka was attained and declared.

Certainly I would neither attempt to discredit our second prime minister nor disparage just anyone, per se, personally. What have we ourselves done or contributed to the nation to condemn anyone who had done so much in the progress and development of the country?

Tun Razak had undeniably contributed immensely to the administration and development of the country. For that alone he should be held in high esteem and honour and respect.

We should not view the ISA and NEP as totally deficient and negatively in their entire history. They served their purposes during those times and now could have outlived their raison d’etre.
Furthermore, we have the benefit of hindsight on which we base our judgement and opinions.

Of course, new realities and changing times surely call for the ISA and NEP to be reviewed or perhaps repealed, and replaced with more forthcoming and reasonable ones. Those are for debates and discussions. I do not have problems with that.

Come on guys,

The NEP is not the only instrument the government employ in its economic agenda, certainly there is much more than that.

Any policy, just any policy, which may have good and well-intended intrinsic principles and objectives, if not enforced and implemented in accordance to proper and just procedures and methodology might result in undesirable, negative and conflicting end results. So much so that any positive achievements and intended objectives that came out of it were obscured and clouded.

Some policies could have outlived their original objectives. Some could have been extended beyond their time frame and scope. Some could have been manipulated because they were seen to be convenient and effective tools in perpetuating and perpetrating the interest and position of certain influential segments of the administration, individuals or political parties.

Of course, under such scenarios there would be gainers and losers, depending on which side you are in. The gainers would naturally (though unjustifiably and above board) defend the policies while the losers would cry foul and view them as corrupted, greedy and opportunistic or just plain irresponsible.

That’s the reason why there is a need for fair, responsible and clear minded people to look into the matter to rectify whatever weaknesses, anomalies or improprieties.

That’s the reason why there is a need for accountability, integrity, impartiality, justice, jurisprudence, and a system of check and balance to be installed to ensure a fair, equitable, and a politically, socially and economically correct administration and government.

That’s what we are all crying for.