The outcry on the unfair policy and criteria used for university admissions is not new. It has been going on as long as I can remember. Somehow, a new term called 'meritocracy' has been coined to facilitate admission on perceived 'non-meritocracy' basis. Well, this sandiwara (charade) is not new. This has always been the case. Subsequently, other parties within the BN fold would get the so-called 'concessions' and then thump their chest on how they have been able to resolve it within the BN
spirit.

However, what ought to have been done is that, as provided for under our federal constitution, the aggrieved parties should take this matter to the courts to determine once and for all whether there is justice and transparency in the selection basis - as in the American case.

It is not a question of winning or losing but it is a matter of whether citizens' rights accorded under the constitution have been observed. Isn't it painful to read that a child with 11As could not get a government scholarship whereas one with 9As was able to.

The Education Ministry, perhaps, ranks the highest in the order of perpetuating and nurturing such racial policies. Successive education ministers have gone on to become prime ministers and none, I mean none, have ever thought that a child who has been deprived of educational opportunities based on race despite standing to qualify based on merits will only grow up with polarised views.

Suddenly, everyone seems to talk about racial polarisation. I grew up nurtured by my mother that we have to be very loyal to the government and the ruling party and I have been supporting and voting for the BN-based government during elections but as I grew up and became a victim of the racially based policies I was deeply hurt and driven to belief as to why should I ever vote for the BN.

For the first time in my life I voted for the opposition during the last election - not because I love the opposition but I am so fed up with the BN government. It is no use to suddenly come up with the idea of re-introducing the Rukunegara as Siti Zaharah recently announced. Would I ever believe in it? Never