COMMENT I think these are important enough issues to be debated at the upcoming Umno general assembly instead of trivial and or racially defamatory matters.

1) The abolition of ‘bangsa’ and ‘ugama’ in all official documentation - other than harping on shutting down vernacular schools which appears to be a knee-jerk reaction, the delegates should seriously debate the necessity for these identification tags when we have been independent for more than 57 years.

At present, we are three (or more) separate trains heading to a destination on what we believe is, one track, with an aim of gently merging into one giant caboose. Quite obviously, the three trains are moving at different speeds and may not even be on the same track to the destination.

Only when we become 1 Malaysia(n) for real, then only can we progress as a nation with unified goals and similar national aspirations. I wouldn’t be averse to closing vernacular schools if all such institutions are abolished (see below).

2) The abolition of Mara colleges (and other similar discriminatory institutes of higher learning) for one race. Education should be for all our children, provided on a needs basis. If a poor family (any race) has a child that is smart, we should give the kid a place in varsity based on his/her affordability.

The practice of giving rich Malays a place and denying poor Indians/Chinese the very same opportunity is totally repulsive and unfair. I would even venture that this is against most religious teachings - 57 years of divisive policies are enough,

3) Sacking the heads of departments where serious wrongdoings are found by the auditor-general. While some jokers are ready to form a jihad against court rulings (that in general support the principles of equality and fairness), they are totally silent on the incidences of graft, thievery and financial abuse.

Five hundred mistakes by one agent cannot be be a ‘mistake’. Once, twice and maybe three times can be human error, I will accept, but more than that, it’s collusion and graft. The Customs director-general should be sacked for allowing this to go on for 500 times.

4) The decline in the standard of education. The delegates must grind the education minister as to why, every year, (in increasing trend) thousands of students obtain straight As and yet, each year, Malaysia fares even lower in the standard of its education when compared to its peers.

We no longer need to argue whether we are a factory producing paper geniuses, we already know the answer. Debate what are we going to do to stop the educational rot and bring up our education standards. I fear the rot is so deep that there may be a dearth of intellectual capacity to even discuss this malaise,

5) Redistribution of oil royalties. Delegate from the oil-producing states should raise the inequality of oil royalty revenue as an issue. It’s only right that the royalty should be based on a per capita basis so that the wealth of the producing state can be ploughed back into upgrading the states’ infrastructure to make them on par with the more developed states now.

It’s illogical for Sabah, Sarawak, Trengganu and Kelantan to be among the most backward states when these four states produce more than 50 percent of the nation’s output. Somehow, the math doesn’t add up and the delegates must query the minister in charge.

Causing disharmony and racial disputes

6) Banning of all racist NGOs. Not only do these NGOs suck up taxpayers’ money (as was admitted by the administration itself), most of these NGOs have become para-militaristic and cause nothing but disharmony and racial disputes.

Some of these NGOs have terrible manners and while claiming to champion the cause of a certain religion, act in a repulsive manner like gyrating their members’ bottoms in public. The delegates should bring to task these leaders and expel them from the party for insulting the religion and indeed, common sense.

7) ‘Cowgate’ scandal. I think for too long the public has been kept in the dark over the NFC fiasco. While there is an apparent crime (there is no way to justify the purchase of condominiums and luxury cars in personal names with monies paid by taxpayers) committed, the culprits are still walking free and indeed, enjoying political patronage.

The delegates must debate the lax control by the relevant government department(s) and hold the ministers accountable for wasting more than RM190 million of taxpayers’ money. I expect some will question the 1MDB fiasco, too,

8) Affordable housing for all. Despite the lavish spending allocated in every budget, the poor of this country (of any race) simply cannot afford their own houses. The temporary and insignificant measures like BRIM only serve to increase inflation and push the cost of living even higher.

Instead of grandiose monuments of ego, delegates must question national leaders as to why up until today, while 80 percent of Singaporeans own their own homes, the number is less than half in Malaysia?

We have more land, more resources and more human capital than tiny Singapore but yet, we cannot match house ownership statistics like them. Isn’t this a real pressing issue for any political party to debate and resolve?

9) Stop unilateral conversion. This is a very serious issue. If the delegates really believe that their religion is one without compulsion, then they would rally behind the urging to stop this odious practice.

Not doing so, would clearly prove that there is indeed compulsion and the lack of maturity to right the wrongs done daily. Religion is a personal matter and children of parents who divorce, cannot be made to convert without understanding the implications of doing so,

10) Stop the bogeyman threats of their race and religion coming under threat. Every day now, we see some lunatic stirring up unnecessary sentiments by yelling that their race and religion are under threat.

Delegates should realise that they are already the majority and are indeed in ‘control’. In fact, it is the majority that is bullying the minority with daily threats and utterly nonsensical pronouncements. The minority is clearly under threat by these mad extremists and the prime minister has to take control and prove to be the PM for all Malaysians.

RAMESH RAJARATNAM is fearful that the upcoming Umno general assembly will again be used as a platform to spew racially-biased statements with impunity.