It is about time all Malaysians start treating other Malaysians as their fellow brothers and sisters. What does anyone lose if another Malaysian is a doctor or any other profession of their choice? Does it make one any richer or poorer?

For many decades, certain segments of Malaysian society had to bear with the pain of being deprived of seats in the public universities. The logic of the day was that if open merit was to be used, one part of society would be left behind.

Nobody really cared about these policies till today. Some Malaysians, realising the barriers here, sought to continue their studies overseas in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. But as these countries became increasingly expensive, parents began to look to non-traditional destination such as Ukraine, Russia and other former Soviet Union countries.

But I now hear that the government is withdrawing its recognition of the medical degree offered by Ukraine's Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) where about 1,000 Indian Malaysian students are studying.

This was a institution fully recognised by the Public Services Department. Now, all of a sudden the government decides to de-recognise the institution. What is the bottom line? Are we telling ourselves that we Malaysians are too good for the former Soviet Union countries and that the latter are misfits?

It is not the fault of parents or their children to have sought admission to Crimea State. The government must not act irresponsibly. They cannot function like the chameleon changing its colours at different times of the day - one rule for today another for tomorrow.

If they have found it good enough for recognition then they must bear responsibility for the Malaysian children who trusted the judgement of their elders in the government.

It is timely for the prime minister to intervene and set right the wrongs committed before this begins to be a hurt factor not only for the children and parents involved but also for the country and the Barisan Nasional government.