Racial and religious criteria should be weeded out to give way to a more universal system leaning towards neutral race, neutral religion, merit-based approach. Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman's tightrope balancing pole thus appears to be weighted on one side when he is quoted to strive forward on these very racial and religious weightage in its public post appointments ('CM: Posts based on race and religion').

Assuming Musa's context also meant the nurturing of excellence in government machinery and thus governance, the hope and way forward for Sabah's multi-ethnic population will be better off in a universally gender/race/religion neutral-based merit system. Proceeding on the yardstick based heavily on race and religion is reliving the flaws and neglecting lessons learnt from the national NEP vis a vis globalisation.

Modeling a suitable meritocracy to nurture such excellence is indeed within Sabah's capability despite being the poorest state in Malaysia. Sabahans can show the nation the way forward in which the best overall character, regardless of race and religion, should only be the ones in line for consideration to any public posts.

Indeed, it would have been far more endearing of Musa had he used a far more universal yardstick in appointments to public posts. Sabah is the nation's poorest state, and among many leading causes, the state is at pit's bottom partly because of the existing racial and religious based culture.