If we ever wondered what went wrong with our education system or our country, we only have to look at the likes of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia co-founder and former professor Zainal Abidin Wahid. It is scary to know that such a backward, ignorant attitude is spewing from an educationist. Little wonder then that some of our students too spout such retrogressive views.

Abidin says non-Malays should "be thankful that the Malays did not chose to be the king in their own country". If a non-Malay ever say something in a similar vein on this subject in public he would be liable for sedition for causing racial disharmony.

People like Zainal continue to spew such offensive dribble against non-Malays (such people include Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who on one hand covets non-Malay support but on the other encourages Malays to stick together against competition). How much longer must we swallow this kind of nonsense?

Zainal's logic regarding the opening up of Mara to non-Malays is a twisted one, but then we can't blame him because our PM led the way in this deception. Both claim that there is inequity in a situation where there are more non-Malays in private institutions and overseas institutions, using it as a reason for protecting Malay enrolment in local institutions.

This of course is absurd when you consider that non-Malays have no choice but to enrol in private schools, and pay more for their tuition when they ought to get subsidised public education, because they are denied access to the public education system. They go overseas because they simply cannot get places here.

I once knew a student who was at the very top of his school but could not get a scholarship for further studies from our government. The irony was that he managed to secure a limited scholarship from Singapore. There are thousands of cases like his.

Contrary to the twisted view that is often presented, non-Malays do not enjoy the luxury of expensiveoverseas education. Much of it comes through immense sacrifice and at little choice. Many, if given an open, just education system for all, would not need to resort to such extravagance.

The problem lies not in our history, as Abidin's repugnant interpretation of it tries to show, but in the very system that he has set up to deny certain Malaysians of education.

It is shameful that he has to resort to dredging up and distorting the past to try to maintain a backward status quo. We are living in the 21st century, Zainal. Drop the pathetic act. You are less interested in helping raise standards of education for the Malays than you are desperately fighting for exclusivity for your lot.