I write to express my utmost support for our education minister stand that our schoolchildren should try their utmost to wear standard school uniforms to promote unity and harmony among the various races in this country.

I don't think it is fair for the parent of young school children to force their children to wear the 'serban' (Muslim male headgear) to school as it is not compulsory in Islam.

Not allowing children to attend school just because they are not allowed wear a certain type of dress will cause these children to lose out on their education in the long run.

No man is an island and Muslims and non-Muslims alike must adhere to the sensitivity of the various norms and values. School students should try and follow all school regulations as long as they do not conflict with their religious beliefs.

Nowadays, schoolchildren tend to be separated by race and you hardly see them mixing around with the other races. This problems continues right up to varsity levels.

If children cannot integrate at a young age among themselves, how are we going to promote national integration and promote peace and harmony among our younger generation?

Rich parents send their children to private schools, some in the Chinese and Indian communities send their children to Chinese and Indian schools respectively while the remainder send their children to public schools.

And then, we have some religiously inclined Muslims insisting that their children be sent to religious schools to boost their religious knowledge. One tends to wonder how national integration can be achieved by having so many schools.

Singapore, which is advanced in the education field, has already abolished vernacular-based schools and all their students attend the same type of education regardless of race. One can only hope and pray that our educators will follow the same route to promote greater integration among our citizens here.

Malaysian regardless of race and values should see the woods for the trees and build bridges instead of walls amongst themselves.