It is by now absolutely clear that the opposition to the government's proposal not only cuts across party lines but also ethnic and religious divides. Malays, Chinese and Indians have now publicly joined forces and voices in unison to object to the scheme. It augurs well for the development of genuine and mass-based Malaysian nationalism.

Unfortunately, Umno Youth, some of their front organisations and the Umno-controlled Malay newspapers are still living in the past and attempting to pit Malay Malaysians against Chinese Malaysians. It is wrong and unacceptable to Malaysians who think in a normal and modern frame of mind.

Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein must be more disciplined and restrained. He should not play to the gallery or pander to the parochialism and racialism of Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian .

Hishammuddin must not forget that his grandfather, Onn Jaafar had rejected the parochial Malay nationalism of Umno in favour of liberal multiethnic politics as early as 1954. The grandson in 2002 must not be more backward in outlook than his own grandfather in 1954.

One way to assist Malay youth to learn English and broaden their intellectual horizon is to encourage them to cease buying and reading Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian .

Instead, Malay students and youths should be encouraged to make it their daily habit to read malaysiakini , New Straits Times , The Star , The Sun , Rocket, the English sections of Harakah ,

Berita Keadilan and Suara PRM , BBC and CNN online.

The government should also request technical and educational assistance from the governments of the United States, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to supply linguists and public educationists to revamp and overhaul the entire structure of programmes of Radio TV Malaysia (RTM) to insert more English-as-second language (ESL) programmes for the benefit of children as well as working adults, especially in rural or semi-urban areas.

These foreign experts in teaching English as a second language should be empowered to retrench unproductive and monolingual personnel in RTM . They should also sit as editorial advisers in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian .

Moreover, senior editorial and reporting staff of Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian should be compelled to pass appropriate test of the English language in order for them to be retained and not retrenched.

The government and Umno must lead by persuasive example, not coercive threats. Thus, it is also necessary for the Umno secretary-general to order all party circulars and publications be written only in English, and all party meetings, from branch to national levels, be conducted in English. It is necessary to remember two principles here: lead by example, and practice makes perfect.

Hishammuddin, for example, should air his nationalistic view in the New Straits Times and The Star , not in Utusan Malaysia or Berita Harian.