The current urge to curb students from getting involved in politics while in university should not be viewed as wrong. Let's face it, students who get involved in politics do not excel in their studies. If you do not agree with me, just name me a Malay student with a first-class degree and is a leader of a political group in university (or the country even)? You cannot.

Malays are a rather sad lot in the universities, especially the males. From my personal observation while in university, I noticed that the majority of Malay male students are confused about their priorities: to study, or not to study.

The financial loans that are given to them are used to buy motorbikes and accessories, not books. They also misuse the money to buy hi-fi radio sets and guitars rather than save some for emergency situations. Studying and doing well in university seemed to come second or third in their list of priorities. Worldly pleasures mesmerise them when they should be thinking seriously about their future.

Malay boys are rarely found in the library. Those who are there will only stay there either to accompany their girlfriends or pick up girls. The others who are missing might just be sleeping in the room, playing computers games, watching porn VCDs, singing their hearts out with their guitar, smoking or contemplating their next move in the next university election. You might disagree, but I have heard a fair share of confessions myself.

As one who is a Malay, I think this problem can only be solved if stricter action is taken on these boys. How they spend the money should be monitored to ensure that the taxpayers' money goes right where it is supposed to and not be misused. Parents and the society should chip in their efforts to help these boys stick to their priorities.

While I do not agree with stopping students from expressing their political beliefs in university and outside, I think it has to stop when it is adversely affecting the quality of students. Politics should be viewed as a subject open for debate in the university where almost everything can be turned into an intellectual discourse.

Hence, I agree with the prime minister that students should concentrate on their studies, excel in it, find a good job and later decide whether to get themselves seriously into the dirty world of politics or not.