I read with great interest the ongoing debate of quota for private universities and MRSM (Mara Junior Science Colleges). There were references to historical elements to justify why the quota system should be in place, continued and maintained.

Most Malaysians agree that historical elements have made Malaysia unique, in which different races from various parts of the world have converged on the land and adopted it as their homeland. Descendants of these people have in turn accepted the country as their homeland. I do not discount that the journey to statehood has been borne by sacrifices from our forefathers in many forms.

The world we live in today bears no similarity to the world of our forefathers. In much the same way we dictate that representation to the UN Security Council and United Nations must not be based upon events of a single war. It does not do justice to the country to base present policies to events half a century ago.

The world is enclosing before our very eyes, the Internet and globalisation has brought an increased blurring in national boundaries and racial lineage. Competition is stiff in all avenues of commerce in which Malaysia chooses to compete. The world does not recognise quotas, the world does not recognise past sacrifices. The world rewards efficiency, the world rewards quality. The world rewards those who are not afraid of competition and strife.

Bringing it back to the context of the debate, private educational institutions do not discriminate as they are free enterprise — a willing seller of knowledge to willing buyers. Imposing a quota is akin to putting a stop to free enterprise and further propagating the mindset of protectionism.

MRSM colleges are social instruments borne out of a period in our nation's history to raise the level of education among bumiputras. MRSM is an exclusive instrument. It is impossible to compare the free enterprise of private institutions with the imposition of quotas to an exclusive institution.

The way is such that a great fire is not borne out of stagnant water, only fanned ambers burning against all the other elements will arise a sparkling flame. You cannot reap what you have not sown, you cannot bring excellence in the midst of protectionism, you cannot win without excellence.