I agree with Dr Kua Kia Soong ( Unfair censure of Chinese education leaders ) that o­ne does not have to be Chinese-educated to support Chinese education. The reasoning should apply to Malay, Arabic, Tamil and other mother tongue education.

The principle is simple: Mother tongue education is a human right that should be upheld and defended by all.

I also fully agree with him that o­ne should not use abusive language like "humbugs" for personal attacks in public discourse.

The larger question in this issue is, should Chinese education be approached and taught professionally. I think it should.

Dong Jiao Zong's New Era College should appoint Chinese-educated academicians who have the proper paper qualifications in both Mandarin and subjects taught to be its top managers and educators. There is no lack of supply of such qualified graduates from Taiwan.

Of course, there are also many Chinese-educated and professionally qualified Chinese Malaysians who are also fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

This is not to suggest that Malaysians who have not gone through Chinese education have no place in it. Those who are qualified to teach other languages could be appointed for that purpose.

There is certainly a pressing need for Chinese students to master the English language, even though the human right to mother tongue education has to be defended against Umno's encroachment.