As the discussion rages on on whether [#1]Suqiu's appeals[/#] are to be entertained or not, there might be a compromise that, if accepted, may benefit all sides and the nation as a whole.

The foundation of any modern society does not necessarily lie in who owns how much or how little, or how free the political system may or may not be - take a look at Singapore where essentially a one-party political system exists. The governing party is so dominant that whenever anyone steps out of line, the courts are used to sue the unfortunate dissenter into bankruptcy and, ultimately, silence. And yet, the nation is advanced, more advanced than any other in Southeast Asia, and one of the most advanced in the world.

No, a large part of Suqiu's appeals are less important for the time being. What will create the foundation of a modern society for Malaysia, as it has in Singapore and just about every other developed nation you can point a stick at, is a more merit-based system of education where if you are smart, hardworking and talented, you will be rewarded regardless of race or colour.

It was shocking for me to discover the other day that a Malay youth with an aggregate of 24 in his SPM examination (barely a Grade 1) was to be accepted into a local university. After asking around, it was clear that even those who had a high Grade 2 were also being accepted. This wouldn't be a problem if they were already the best that the nation could produce. But the unfortunate truth is that they aren't. Others who are far, far better are being turned away from our local institutions for no other reason than that because they do not hold the privilege of being classified "Bumiputra".

Chinese students with a aggregate score of below 10 (a score that can only be achieved through hard work) are being regularly turned away. Why? Because they come from rich families? Not many do, many are poor (poverty is a colour-blind concept - as there are poor Malays, there are equally poor Chinese and Indians) and so even the option of overseas education may be closed to them. When they do not get a better education, then, quite sadly, the talent that they have proven to possess through our country's multi-tier examination system, is wasted. Not only does that hurt them, but it hurts the nation too.

What this country needs is more talent, more hardworking people who will provide that final push towards our vision of development. Answer truthfully, if not to anyone else but to yourselves: If we keep on denying the best students of this nation the opportunity to further develop their talent just because of the colour of their skin, will we ever develop the talent pool that we so desperately require? If we don't use a fair system of competition to drive our students, will we get any further than where we are today?

Another disturbing trend that I've noticed is that many of our overseas students, especially those who are self-sponsored (and under our current discriminatory system, many of them are non-Malays) are increasingly choosing not to return to Malaysia, having found that their talent is better appreciated in whatever first-world nation they have chosen to further their studies. So the loss to Malaysia is doubled: Not only do we put less competent Malays is our universities, but our best students who we ourselves have forced abroad are not returning to contribute their abilities to our society. If this trend continues, we are in serious trouble.

If nothing else comes from Suqiu's appeals, at least let our discriminatory education policies be changed to reward those who truly deserve it. Then, I promise you, everything else will fall into place.