Tan Sri Muhyiddin must know that the era where the government knows best is over.

Yesterday, BN Youth wings from MIC, Gerakan, MCA and PPP called on the Education Mini­stry to review its decision on the 10 subject cap on SPM.

Today's media reports say that MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu has appealed to the prime minister to intervene in resolving the "impasse" over the Indian community's request to allow Indian students to take a maximum of 12 SPM subjects .

I have earlier called on the government to rethink the SPM subject cap decision as I don't see the logic of having to put on a 10 subject cap just to resolve the controversy in awarding the Public Service Department scholarships.

As I have said, the scholarship problem can be easily solved by evaluating an applicant's academic results based on the best 10 subjects, which can be a combination of compulsory core and relevant elective subjects.

It must be noted that in May this year, Samy has also requested the Education Ministry to review its ruling on the subject cap.

Samy Vellu was then quoted to say that he would write to the Education Minister to put on record the MIC’s objection to the ruling.

Before deciding on the subject cap. the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin sought public views on the proposal to impose the subject limit.

The question that Tan Sri Muhyiddin must answer today is why he did not give due consideration to all views? Is he prepared to say that the objections to the 10 subject cap are not rational and valid?

When the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced his Cabinet on April 10, 2009, he has declared: “The era where the government knows best is over. ".

With the failure of the Teaching Maths and Science in English policy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin must accept that the era where the government knows best is over.

The government must also do as it preaches. The government must honour what it has declared and must not still behave as it knows all and best. The government must accept the people's objections on the 10 subject cap.

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