As Malaysia is moving towards 50 years of nationhood, I can safely conclude that Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin is a minister who is lacking of ministerial material (some say, void of quality at all!) proven through statements he made for the past few months.

Being an Information Minister, he is clueless on what’s blogging all about. His statements with regarding to Malaysia blogging community is inconsistent too by trying his luck through various measures, either through intimidation or even suggestion to classify bloggers into professional and non-professional bloggers.

Now, he is on a new headline, asking Malaysians especially students studying oversea to foster unity and show mutual respect to each other but not questioning what has become a social contract in this country.

Being the chosen ones, he said the students must be mindful of each others’ sensitivities and not raise questions on matters that have been ingeniously agreed to by the country’s forefathers nearly 50 years ago.

"Matters like how the Chinese and Indians can become Malaysian citizens, why only the Malays can become rulers, why Islam became the official religion and why Bahasa Malaysia is the national language should not be questioned anymore,"

Mutual respect is one thing, however it’s not right at all to conclude that questioning equals not showing respect. Critical thinkers are what this country need and we should encourage intellectual discourse among students instead of accepting what’s being taught wholeheartedly.

Students too, as part of this country, have the right to understand what’s social contract is all about and why its formulation at first place. How can the Information Minister denies students the right to information?

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