It looks like the government is going to backpedal on implementing meritocracy in education because it is politically too difficult to do so. This is expected as it has always been the Malaysian way of doing things, unprincipled and too much compromise. However, if compromise is to be done, let me make a suggestion.

Let's have one university, any one, even the worst, as a pure meritocractic institution, in every aspect, from the admission, management, teachings, research, etc.

Such a meritocratic institution would keep Malaysia in the global competitiveness race for knowledge, produce the needed talents and leadership and set a benchmark for the other institutions to follow. Allow this institution to go as far and as fast as it can and see how the other institutions will follow.

This is a better option than any half-hearted approach to every institution that can be easily abused and hardly implemented. Once students realise the rewards of achieving excellence, they will be spurred to improve their own performance. It is better to reward those who excel than to spur those who are mediocre.