The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) has come out to say that it will not extend recognition to Ukraine's Crimea State Medical University after Dec 31, 2006. Such a decision - without any prior warning - has come a rude shock to many Malaysians particularly the students intending to study there.

It is a disappointment to the Malaysian public for various reasons. First, it is not clear why the MMC zeroed on this particular university when there are many other universities in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South Asia also recognised by the Malaysian government. Many of these universities have doubtful teaching and clinical standards but are nonetheless tolerated by the MMC and the Malaysian government.

Second, by specifically focusing on the medical standards of CSMU, questions are raised about the objectivity and impartiality of MMC's assessment of its curriculum, teaching methods, student-lecturer ratio and others.

Third, while the Malaysian public expects the MMC to advise the government on the quality of medical programmes in various recognised universities, it is unclear whether the MMC itself initiated the present de-recognition of CSMU.

Fourth, knowing very well that the admission criteria for medical schools in Malaysia is biased in favour of those taking the matriculation entrance examination, it is not very clear whether the MMC's real intention to de-recognize the CSMU is based on considerations other than academic.

Fifth, some are arguing that the MMC's decisions to de-recognise the CSMU is related to the need to balance the entry of Malays and non-Malays into medical schools both here and abroad.

Given the demand for medical education in universities that are good and cheap, it is quite natural that some students might have used the assistance of unscrupulous agencies to gain admission without the necessary credentials.

In this regard, it always wise for the MMC and the government to take the necessary steps to weed out these black sheep rather than punish those who have not committed any crime. CSMU might not be the top medical school in the entire world, however, it at the same time is not as bad as some of the schools currently recognised by the Malaysian government.

The decision to de-recognise the CSMU comes at time when there is so much controversy about higher education in general and entry into medical education in particular. Not only is there a mismatch between the two entry points into local universities, there is also a certainly perceived discrimination against the entry of non-bumiputeras into medical schools.

Therefore, given the strong traditional predilection of many Indian parents to send their children to medical schools, entry into cheap and good foreign medical universities has emerged as a viable alternative option for them.

This explains why the MIC was so upset by the MMC's decision to de-recognise the CSMU, leading to the outbursts by one of its deputy ministers in parliament.

The situation of higher education has become very critical in the country. The government has simply no vision to provide a good alternative for Malaysians. And once the university intakes are announced under the notorious meritocracy system, the problem will be compounded.

I suggest the following measures to be adopted by the government to defuse the present tensions in society.

First, make an announcement to cancel the recent decision to de-recognise the CSMU pending a major study to ascertain the merits or demerits of certain controversial medical schools abroad.

Second, if not too late for this year, make an announcement to replace the present meritocracy- based university intake system with a different system. Third, make allowances for a more effective representation of marginalised groups in critical academic disciplines such as medicine, engineering and dentistry.

The deteriorating situation of higher education in Malaysia cannot be resolved overnight. What is needed right now is the correct political will on the part of the government to rise above narrow ethnic sectarian concerns to ensure that our educational system caters for the interests of all ethnic groups.