The education minister's anger

over questions of transparency of the supposedly meritocractic admission to public universities reflects the amount of mistrust the people have with the government.

Umno has taken for granted over the years that non-protest over its racial policies is equated with acceptance rather than despair and apathy. The truth is all that have been happening is growing anger that is mitigated by practical determination to overcome odds.

Hence, it is no surprise that when changes are made to a racial policy, all sort of accusations are hurled. It is equivalent to one knowing one is right for years and saying "I told you so!"

The only way to dispel any suspicion over the 'meritocractic admissions' is to open up all avenues leading to admission to universities. The government should let the non-bumiputra enter matriculation, especially poor needy Indian Malaysians.

If the government really wants to be meritocractic, admissions to universities should be decentralised and run by independent admission boards in every university. Otherwise, years of suspicion built over the years will continue to haunt them.