I am a Chinese Malaysian who graduated from a US university many years ago. I read recent news reports of the so-called meritorious varsity admissions with great dismay.

I must say that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is wrong in his implication that if the number of bumiputra students were to be reduced in the public universities through the so-called 'merit-based' admission system, the non-bumiputra, especially Chinese and Indian Malaysians, would be very happy about it.

He also mentioned that there are only 800 bumi students (government sponsored) out of a total of 17,000 Malaysian students studying in the US. And 80 percent of our private colleges' students in Malaysia are non-bumi.

In this, I strongly feel that he has again missed the point. Yes, there are more non-bumi, to be more specific, Chinese Malaysian students in private colleges, and in foreign universities. But they are all fee-paying students. I dare say that 99.99 percent of them do not get scholarships and study loans from our government which collects taxes 'regardless of ethnicity'.

These non-Malay Malaysian students are trying every possible way to pursue a good education. Their parents sell houses, cars, jewellery, and make a lot of sacrifices to ensure that their children receive a good education. Their efforts should be commended.

I find it hard to understand what more fee-paying Chinese Malaysian students, as compared with Malay Malaysian students, studying in private colleges or overseas universities, has got to do with the public universities' controversial 'merit-based' admission system.

If Malay Malaysian students want to pay their own fees to enter private colleges and overseas universities, I will be the first one cheering for them and I do not think any other Chinese in Malaysia would say a single word against it.

Private colleges in Malaysia and overseas universities take in fee-paying students irrespective of nationality and ethnicity. This is a free world. If you have the financial means, you can do anything so long as it is legal. Getting a good education is a legal thing. I do not see why each time, when the admission system to local universities is in question, Malay politicians will start comparing the number of Chinese students in local private colleges and overseas universities, and then come out with the mocking conclusion that the total number of Chinese students receiving higher education is still more than Malay students.

Is it any wonder when the foreign press makes fun or unfavourable comments of our politicians who are always making a fool of themselves by their ridiculous remarks?

The excuse that Malay students have less financial resources to study in private colleges and overseas universities is no longer true. Most of my Malay colleagues who have bigger cars, bigger houses, nicer furniture and more jewellerry are not willing to spend their own money to even attend a short course which will help them in their career.

My point is that this is mainly an attitude problem. Malay students are not dumb or stupid. This is just that their parents' priority is different from the Chinese or perhaps the over-dependence on the government is also to be blamed.

I hope the prime minister and his Cabinet will not make the wrong comparisons again. If ever local universities are closed to all but Malay students, I am sure non-Malay parents will just find a way of educating their young elsewhere, which is even happening now as reflected in the 'high' number of them in private colleges and overseas universities.

I only wish the PM can understand the hardships many Malaysian families, particularly the non-Malays, go through to send their children to private colleges and foreign universities because of the unfair and uncertain education system back home.

We, in fact, don't wish to be caught in this quagmire. Life is too short and time too precious to waste on 'guessing' what the government's next step is in the education policy before we act.

I am sorry if I have sounded harsh. I have always respected the PM and so hope he will take my words like a true statesperson.