A few days His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin Shah of Perak made a most important statement at a school function in Perak, He said in his royal address that to inculcate unity among the various races, the country's student and teacher population should reflect the population ratio of all the races in the country.

According to his Royal Highness, there is no better place than the schools to promote national unity as this is where children from various backgrounds and origin learn to interact with one another to later grow up accepting each other regardless of race or religion.

His Highness made a similar statement at a convocation ceremony a few days earlier. To make such a call, I believe His Royal Highness had deeply reflected on the issue and was obviously disturbed and troubled enough by wrong direction the country is being taken towards.

It is my hope and prayer that our politicians, especially the prime minister and other Umno politicians will take note of Raja Nazrin's enlightened view which, in my view, was made in the interest of national unity.

It is not that they needed any reminders on the matter as it is obvious to all that national unity currently exists only superficially.

I have one suggestion to expand Raja Nazrin's idea and that is that the staff of the civil service including the police force, the institutions of higher learning, the judiciary and other department should also reflect a balanced racial composition.

Then and then only, the served and the serving will feel the sense of national belonging.