I refer to the report pertaining to the comments made by Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak on July 6 with respect to the potential development of the Royal Military College (RMC).
It is indeed a pleasure to note that, after a half-century of the institution's existence, the authorities have acknowledged the sterling contributions made by graduates of the college towards the betterment of the nation in all spheres, both military and non-military — as succinctly enunciated in its royal charter.
In my opinion, the most fundamental aspect of the RMC that distinguishes it above the other residential schools in Malaysia, and, which makes it unique as far as "nation-building" is concerned, is the fact that it is the only fully residential college, at the time of its conception (and for a long time afterwards), that accepts Malaysians of all ethnicity to be students of the institution!
The opportunity provided for Malaysians of all ethnic background to be able to live, study, play and mingle together from the age of 16 (initially) and 13 (later), has indeed played a major role in ensuring the understanding and tolerance of each other's perceived iniquities and assumed "differences".
To date, such a bond of understanding is superbly manifested whenever the 'Old Putera Association or OPA' (the association of old boys of the RMC) holds a Muslim tahlil (thanksgiving) session for those who have departed this earthly world, and, one finds that, during the obligatory feast concluding the purely Muslim ritual, 'Old Puteras or OPs' of other faiths joining in the noble deed.
Besides such a 'perfunctory' example, it has been definitively proven that, having lived and, occasionally "suffered" together within the confines of the college, OPs of the RMC from varying ethnic diversity are able to discuss and deliberate on "ethnically-sensitive" issues with a sense of tolerance that belies their having formed a firm bond of friendship and camaraderie across ethnic lines throughout their stay at the alma mater .
Such sublime example of tolerance, understanding and mutual respect for the other Malaysian's cultural and religious norms would, in my opinion, not have been possible if the RMC had confined its intake to Malaysians of a single ethnicity.
As such, I sincerely beseech the authorities to seriously consider setting up more of such residential schools in our beloved Malaysia — get our young to mix and mingle, to live and face challenges together, during their tender growing-up years, rather than opting to "force" it unto them in tertiary institutions, whence, by then, perceived and assumed bias against "the other Malaysian" would have been too ingrained in their psyche, that would seriously prohibit genuine tolerance of each other's cultural and religious mores.
Of course, the military training inculcated into the young students, as practised at the RMC, is also another unique feature that, in my mind, would ensure the blooming of a highly tolerant, disciplined and, above all, truly Malaysian in the nation — as aptly described by its motto: "Serve to lead".
