I support the prime minister's view that the present education system must undergo a review.

The present education system is a continuation of the colonial legacy that was established as a political patch-up to garner the support of the various divergent groups at that time.

To a large extent, each group was interested in safeguarding its own interests rather than thinking of a united nationhood. After that, even minor changes have met with resentment from these groups as they have become more and more uncompromising.

We are now reaping the results of that contract of convenience with those in power having the opportunity to entrench themselves strongly. Many Malaysians have come to accept the present inter-ethnic situation as being uniquely Malaysian and to accept all the differences and deficiencies therein.

But some of us wonder whether a distinct national feeling is shared by all Malaysians, irrespective of racial origins.

As an educator who has gone through the various phases of the development of independent Malaysia, I feel that the divisions among the races are becoming more and more marked as time goes by. No matter how intelligently we play-act to show our 'unity' at selected functions, the truth is far from that rosy.

While ethnic cultures can be maintained at family and community levels, a national culture must be nurtured at school and workplace levels. But we have compromised on this. In fact, we have gone too far in the different directions of our own comfort zones because the wealth of the nation has kept all of us quite happy without having to look at all the other directions.

When scarcity creeps in, and our comfort zones are shattered, surely we are going to consider 'the others' as one of the reasons for our state. Such a situation will almost certainly create animosity along ethnic lines.

Having said that, reform is urgently needed for our education system. I must also state that it cannot be done in isolation to other national policies. An honest overview is needed of all national policies.

A review of the education policy in isolation of other sectors will be an exercise in futility.

First of all, do we have leaders who consider themselves as Malaysians first, and have the confidence to convince their followers to think as Malaysians as well?

As the fathers of our independence sat together and whipped up a contract with many concessions to suit their time, present and future leaders must be able to formulate policies and systems for nation building, 50 years after independence.

But as long as we have leaders who wish to gain as much as possible for their own communities, the concept of a Malaysia with compatible policies and systems will continue to be a dream.

And unfortunately, I must admit that glancing at the present leaders and the various stances taken by them, I am pessimistic that such a Malaysia is possible.