Amidst the chorus of angry protests against Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's recent remark that Chinese Malaysians have been marginalised, can the protesters answer a simple question?

If there has been no racial marginalisation in Malaysia, why has the word 'meritocracy' been taboo in politics ever since the race riots of May 13, 1969 ?

This is the only country in the world that has virtually banned the concept.