In an odd way, the messy national service (NS) programme helps explain why many Chinese- educated parents do not trust the vision school programme.

No, vision schools are not suspected of drug abuse and gangsterism. But Chinese-educated parents have long memories of the Malaysian government's administrative foul-ups, broken promises, arbitrary decisions, policy bias, deviation from existing laws and gradual subversion of well-intended objectives.

This deep-rooted distrust needs to be explained to the other Malaysian parents who support the idea of vision schools. The NS is an apt illustration of how a well-intended objective can go very wrong in the hands of Malaysian officials. It shows how 'principle' and 'practice' are as apart as heaven and earth under BN-appointed bureaucrats.

This year, the national service programme probably earned the Barisan Nasional the hearts and votes of many well-meaning Malaysians who want more 'national unity'.

During the run-up to the general election in March, while the media was still covering up the NS scandals, a highly-educated, opposition sympathiser expressed to me his enthusiasm for the NS: "Finally, isn't this is a good programme to let all the races mix and learn together?" It came through as a courteous chiding of a 'chauvinistic' comrade (me).

Earlier, another parent at the kindergarten - an entrepreneurial lady well anchored in reality - courteously but righteously asked me: "You are another one of those insisting on sending your kids to Chinese primary schools? Why not the same school as my child, which is of English- Malay medium?"

Chinese-educated parents and the multi-racial parties need to understand such sentiments. The BN-media created image of 'recalcitrant' Chinese educationists who are unwilling to be integrated into Malaysian society is apparently accepted even by urbane Malays.

What they don't realise is that many Chinese-educated families have learned through generations not to trust the BN-appointed bureaucrats, their policies and promises on education.

Chinese education is not only a channel to pass as a way of life. It is a part of the definition of the Malaysian ethnic Chinese identity (just as a Malay must study Bahasa Melayu to define himself or herself).

Since the Malaysian government has no intention of remedying the discrimination against our children on educational and business opportunities (permits, loans, contracts), Chinese education is also therefore an insurance to widen our choices for future education and career opportunities.

At the same time, everyone needs to remember that Chinese primary schools teach the same curriculum as other national schools, only that Chinese language is used.

The burden is on BN political appointees to prove their trustworthiness. Only when everyone from the prime minister to the bureaucrat in his office and everyone in between has demonstrated fairness and professionalism can they win the confidence of Chinese-educated parents.

Unfortunately, the sad episodes of the NS only prove right these parents' suspicions. The way to national unity is not through vision schools or national service.

The only way to foster trust and dignity among the races is to completely dismantle the systematic discrimination against our own citizens. We should sacrifice resources to help the poor, but only when without regards to race or creed.