I don't think the Ling-Hishammuddin dispute over the 10 percent quota for bumiputra students in private colleges deserves public energy to debate over because logic reason and fairness are not the issues here.

Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein is — to those who know him personally — an intelligent, personable and reasonable chap trained as a lawyer by profession. He is hardly a racist.

However, when Umno general assembly is around the corner just before the next elections, he is short of a race-based issue which he could use to be seen by Umno Youth members as a champion of Malay rights — and Umno's cause.

I don't know if it was planned or a fortuitous stroke of luck but MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik presented Hishammuddin the golden opportunity of a bogey man when he said that there was no need for a 10 percent quota for bumiputra in private colleges. The Umno Youth chief must have breathed in relief, "Ah, at least now there is an issue for Umno Youth to chew on!"

As I have said in my earlier letter, politicians in this country have no respect for rationality or national integration though these are often cited in support of race-based remarks or race-based positions that are the raison d'être for their race-based support. This is the way to go within the paradigm of racial politics governing Barisan Nasional.

In case anyone should feel sympathetic towards Ling for having his rational comment derided publicly by the Umno Youth leader, don't. He should know the score, being part of a system that he helps maintain.

Now Ling was quoted to have said that when he met with Hishammuddin privately "I have no doubt all this will clear up." ( Star , June 11)

I too do not doubt that. They'd probably give each other a good laugh and say, "Good show, old chap!"