From: harish@csar.uucp (Harish Pillay)
Subject: Re: Official opening of RI (Bishan)
Organization: CSA Research, Singapore
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 02:04:09 GMT

eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Othman Ahmad) writes:
> SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli) writes:>
>: >
>: >mhkho@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Ho Hiang Kwee) writes:
>: >
>: >> LKY : RI was cross-section of Singapore. From the very rich to the very
>: >> poor and the middle class. Every race in Singapore was represented but
>: >> purely on merit, no quotas. Every Malay in RI knew that he had made
>: >> it on his own.
>: >
>: >  What are the entrance requirements? And can Malaysians get in?
>: 
>:       Malaysians can get in. And those who get in are
>: invariably amongst the best in RI. 
>
>It is against the law of statistics unless there is a quota for Malaysians.
>If there is a quota, then the quota can be adjusted in such a way that there
>shall be no Malays or Indians at RI; or most likely for political reasons,
>allow only few Malays and Indians. Invariably only Malaysian Chinese would
>want to apply to RI. There is no such need for brilliant Malaysian Malays to
>go to RI because of the quota system in Malaysia.

As far as I know, RI does not and has never had nor will it ever have ANY 
form of a quota on who can enrol.  The ONLY criteria is PSLE performance.  
There are the ocassional cases of people who tranfer in from schools 
overseas.  This is done on a case by case basis and not to meet any quota.

>        Do you think it is fair to Singapore Malays and Indians; to 
>compete with the best in the world?

Why do you single out Singaporean Malays and Indians?  No, I do not think 
these two groups have any problems competing. 

Heck, I can compete with the best the world can throw at me and should I not 
win, it is not because of my race, but because I just did not work on it 
hard enough.  Similarly, should I win, it has nothing to do with my race - 
it is just that I played and worked harder than others.  I do not think 
anyone need to be concerned with competing with the best.

Secondary One in RI was a very humbling experience for me.  I was used to 
topping my class in primary school (so did most of my classmates when they 
were in their primary schools).  In RI, at the end of Sec 1, I was ranked 
something like 25 or so out of about 40 in my class - even though I got good 
grades. That is a big blow on one's ego at age 13.  But, you pick up and 
continue.  I never complained that there were smarter boys (no matter who 
they were) in my class.  Personally, the 6 years I spent there was a joy.  
The adage that one's school days are the best times of one's life is indeed 
very true.

>Please note that I am not making any comments AT ALL. I am only asking 
>questions. Some people are already furious even if they are being asked
>questions.

Noted.  My comments likewise.

>Forgive me if I am too rude, but that is the way I am. Forever asking questions.
>You should  talk to my son. Non-stop questions. It is all in the gene.

No problem.

Enjoy.
--
Harish Pillay |                  |    Internet:   harish%csar@uunet.uu.net
Singapore     | +65-775-0224 (w) |"Psst!  Wanna buy some mint-flavoured gum?"
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