During this bleak period in Malaysian politics, the approval of Utar is a ray of hope for Malaysian Chinese and Malaysia as a whole.

As stated, the Chinese community has been fighting for a university for 30 years. No other country in the world denies its citizen the right to education the way Malaysia has in the name of national unity.

Contrary to what Dr Mahatir says, most developed countries do allow its migrant citizens to set up their own schools and learn their mother tongue.

In fact, in the US and Canada, Spanish, Chinese education is subsidised. The truth is, most developed countries have excellent education systems in the mainstream that migrants choose to integrate and in fact neglect their mother tongues.

Since the days of Tan Siew Sin, the Chinese community has offered to set up the university, paid for entirely by private means and according to the rules set down by the government but to no avail.

It is sad that this achievement has been approved after intense racial politics was played and at the expense of press freedom.

I urge the MCA, in whatever else they do, not to back down on excellence in Utar no matter what else they have to give up politically.

The next 30 years calls for Chinese community to build a school of excellence on par with the best in the world. Only through education, our children will have their just right since ultimately that will enable them to vote with their own feet if the government is unjust.

I urge companies to donate generously to fund the school and poor students. The higher the standards and the bigger the school we can build, the better it is for not just the non-bumi community but also for all Malaysians.