Dr Mahathir Mohamad's legendary political skills have taken a beating since he turned on Anwar Ibrahim. He has appeared to lose his unique ability to manipulate the Malays in particular and Malaysians in general like a maestro as he presided over the rapid loss of popularity for Umno.

But his recent move to 'implement' meritocracy as the criteria for university intake for the next session has brought the old Mahathir skills roaring back.

In one move, he has thrown a hot potato among Malaysians and put them on the horns of a dilemma.

Where the Malays are concerned, the choice presented is simple: Either support Umno unquestioningly and ensure a privileged path towards achieving tertiary education, or seek to exercise democratic choice at the expense of a fast-track into institutions of higher learning.

Mahathir has always been keenly aware of how overwhelming the need for material well-being has been among Malaysians - and he is banking that once again, materialism will beat out principles and morality at the end of the day.

Where the non-Malays are concerned, meritocracy in university admissions would appear to right one of the biggest wrongs they think they have endured. But whole-hearted support for Mahathir's ploy would also create bitter resentment against them among the Malays.

The sight of non-Malays outnumbering Malays in university campuses, irrespective of whether it is right or wrong, would be jarring indeed under the present conditions, and provide endless bullets down the road for Umno politicians to utilise come election time.

And what do the opposition parties do? The Malay-based parties would be losing some much-needed support if they support the meritocracy move. If they don't, then they are seen as no different from Umno.

As for the non-Malay parties, supporting meritocracy strongly would just contribute to racial tension. Not supporting it opens them to jibes from ... you guessed it, the ruling party politicians during election time.