I agree with the general tone and tenor for racial integration that Ming Hoe ( Integrate, not assimilate to unite ) and LCH ( Forced assimilation doesn't work ) espoused in their letters.

Malaysians have been known to unconsciously adopt three main models of race relations since the country attained Merdeka or Independence o­n Aug 31, 1957.

From Merdeka under the leadership of our 'Bapa Malaysia', Tunku Abdul Rahman up till the unfortunate riots of May 13, 1969, we adopted the 'tolerance' model.

This toleration of anything to do with race relations continued until the changing of the guards in Umno.

That occurred as agreed upon by the protagonists in 1971. This model of creating goodwill and harmony lasted for 12 long years before the May 13 tragedy shocked the country and its leadership into psychological paralysis.

From 1971, when our second prime minister, Abdul Razak, assumed power until he succumbed to cancer in 1976, we adopted the 'avoidance' model. This spelled a departure from the earlier model.

Under this second model, anything to do with race relations was avoided or swept under the carpet. Malaysian leaders avoided the issues of race and race relations.

It worked somewhat and our political leaders were astute enough to know that it is, at best, an interim solution.

From the time our third prime minister, Hussein o­nn, took the helm in 1976, race relations took a positive shift towards the 'guidance' model.

This meant that anything to do with race and race relations would be guided from the top. So far, I am not aware of any other model, even hybrid o­nes, being used to drive our race relations policy in our country.

Underlying whatever model that is being used to govern race relations in our country is the objective of the powers-that-be.

Both Ming Hoe and LCH are clearly against assimilation, the method that they believe is being used by the powers-that-be.

Indeed, while LCH amplified against the use of force or coercion to assimilate the various races in the country, I will go o­ne step further: Just let the many different facets of our culture bloom and flower and pick the best o­nes available.

In short, let us appreciate and celebrate our cultural diversity. That way, we enrich our lives, an enrichment that assimilation will certainly deny.

By assimilation, I take it to mean that when A, the dominant race, is added to B, the minority race, it will produce A. Mathematically, it can be represented as A + B = A.

Assimilation spells the loss of identity of the minority race.

By integration, I mean that when A, again the dominant race, is added to B, the minority race, it will produce plus-minus AB. Mathematically, it can be represented as A + B = AB.

Integration means the blending of strains from A and B that are good into the new model. Integration is an accommodative model.

However, a third method that both writers have not canvassed is amalgamation.

By amalgamation, when A, the dominant race, is added to B, the minority race, it will produce C, a totally new entity. Mathematically, it can be represented as A + B = C.

In the 1920s, an American professor, Bob Park, carried out a sociological study in the burgeoning car-manufacturing city of Chicago. Chicago was attracting blacks into its industrial work force. But racism appeared to be the order of the day.

Without going deeply into his work, what Park found was that socialisation was more important than blood. In other words, biology was not the determinant o­n how people behaved in a given society. How society treated them was.

Given the complex nature of the different races that make up Malaysia, I dare say that the ideal and farsighted model will be the amalgamation model.

However, at this stage of our country's development, we do not appear to be ready for such a quantum leap. That being the case, I venture to say that integration may be the appropriate model for our country and its leaders to adopt.

I am sure that many Malaysian academics have as many different ideas o­n how to formulate a coherent and sustainable race relations policy.

Bereft of heated emotions that politicians operate under, these academics can advise the powers-that-be in our country o­n the best policy that must be implemented over a period of time to unite our nearly 22 million people and galvanise their concerted energy to build an exemplary country in this part of the world.

Malaysia has so far been a blessed country, blessed both with things that normal human beings will need and will never need to live a good life.

It is about time that we Malaysians learn to value life above all else. If we celebrate life and use our lives to prepare for our journey beyond, then we will be able to see things in a different perspective.

We will be able to experience the surge of humanity that is innate in all of us and we will be able to treat each other with respect, humility and tolerance. Nay, we will even feel sufficiently secure to laugh at ourselves and our foibles.

Is that not a good way to celebrate our individual lives, work for the development of our country and pass an enviable legacy in material and psychological terms to our children and our children's children? Hidup Malaysia!