I refer to the letter Inquiry need for 'murderous' NS programme .

We need to build national unity starting from Day One of schooling, not just three months of training when our children reach the age of 18, as what is now being conducted in our National Service.

By 18 years of age, children are already ingrained with concepts which are difficult to change. Besides addressing the issue of national unity and integration, ‘mega-schools’ will provide the framework for us to improve the long-term competitiveness of Malaysia and allow better use of resources.

When I mean mega-schools, I mean that it is like university campus, with branches of a Chinese school, a Tamil school and a national school combined, with common facilities. In this way, Chinese, Indian, and Malays, or Kadazans or Ibans for that matter, will using the same canteen, the same library, and this will generate a lot of interaction and friendships.

These friendships will form the alumni and network of the children when they grow up. Of course, the fundamental thing that needs to change is that we should work towards equality, not towards maintaining inequality as in the present system.

Activities to promote national unity, national pride could be organised in a more effective way, with the critical mass. This may even take away the need for this national service that we currently have. The national service is a three-month programme, whereas activities in such mega- schools could be done all year round, for all of the 13 years of schooling.

From an economic and competitiveness point of view, a ‘mega-school’ could afford to have ‘mega-libraries’ and world-class facilities that will train our future generations to compete at the world stage. To get an idea of what is good ‘mega-library’, one should visit the one in Hong Kong (in Causeway Bay). Our national library is no match. A mega-school can also afford to have the best of sports facilities.

A mega-school will also have the critical mass to afford the best specialist language teachers. It would be able to afford the best sports trainers in any particular field. A mega-school of this nature will be pride and rallying point of Malaysians and propel Malaysia to be a better player on the international stage.

Our current system of building one school here and one school there is not making any impact. Of course, I am sure many parents want to sent their children to a neighbourhood school. Most of the time, the reason is the woeful public transport system we have.

Because of this, a ‘mega-school’ should be part of a major township’s planning. With a mega- school, there is a need for public transport and support services, such as retail shops, supermarkets. There should a mass transport system to allow students to travel to and fro the mega-school.

If this mega-school system works, it will lead to demise of private schools which are effectively managed by private parties, ostensibly to provide public service though many are really profit- oriented organisations.

Some private schools even provide ‘management employment’ to an entire family. There is little effective governmental supervision of such private schools and parents left to send their children to such schools at their risk.

My children attended a private school which collected RM250 per student ostensibly for medical check ups but never did carry out one. This has been happening for years and the school is still getting away with it.

The government should take the leadership in this direction, for the good of Malaysia as a nation.