I refer to the e-mail written by Danny Tan Eng Sim from Ipoh, which was featured in The Star 's letters section on Aug 18. He commented on the projected decline of the Chinese Malaysian population in the coming years and encouraged them to have more children.

I understand his logic but I think it is merely academic rather than practical. The writer obviously does not have a wide perspective of what the real situation here in Malaysia is like. The very reason why the Chinese do not like to have too many children is because they realise that there is inequality in the dispensing of education, social and economic opportunities.

The old advice of 'do not dig your own grave' and 'do not put one foot into the grave' is very much adhered to by our local community and one which I support, too.

Why bother with producing dozens of children when you cannot ensure that they will at least be assured of equal opportunities to procure basic needs?

We cannot refer to this as a national problem because not everyone will see the decline in the Chinese population as a problem. It is only the Chinese ethnic that view it as a problem because it is a disadvantage to them.

The only way to solve this is to ensure equality for all regardless of sex, ethnic and background. Once we have that guarantee, only then will the Chinese start repopulating again. Otherwise, all the 'Cupid Club's in the world will not be able to help MCA in its quest.