It was most interesting to hear about the rakyat 's reaction with regard to Dr Mahathir Mohamad's warning about cutting the quota system in local public universities. Aizuddin Danian (Meritocracy's merit, 30 July) also seemed very enlightened in his views promoting competition as the solution to the 'Malay malaise'. I agree with his views to some extent, but I would like to caution against too quick a change.

All Malaysians will need time to adjust to a new system. An aim of, say, 10 years to remove the quota will provide time for the government to concentrate efforts on improving education and opportunities in rural areas, thereby justifying the abolishment of quotas. It will also provide a psychological goal for Malay students to try to achieve equality with non-Malays.

Sudden change will more than likely produce a backlash, fueling racial hatred.

Aizuddin also touched on affirmative action policies. Yes, we need to have different criteria for the poor and disabled. We need to help the Orang Asli and Bumiputra Sarawak and Sabah communities who lack opportunities compared with Malays, Chinese or Indian Malaysians. Thus although meritocracy has its merits, in the Malaysian context it needs to be graduated and there must always be added help not for people of a race but for the less fortunate.