There is no doubt that the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) is a dead project. Malaysia has not gained anything from it except a glorious chunk of real estate developed at the expense of vast oil-palm and rubber estates.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad saw it as a project that will propel the nation into the information age. Yet, years later, we have gone nowhere with it.

The question to ask is 'why', not 'what' failed the MSC. Material factors, like real estate development, do not advance a country through technology know-how. It is the people that makes the difference. In particular also, the opportunities offered to the people.

To nurture creative people, we need a creative campus atmosphere in the universities. The right to question makes an inquisitive mind. We also need a competitive atmosphere where everyone, regardless of race, can compete based on merit and skill. Do away with the quota system. Let people know they can fail without being embarrassed as long as they have tried their best.

These may sound idealistic but practically, this is the only way to go. Many Malaysian politicians probably know it too. The changes may have ramifications in the political sphere but are fundamental to making Malaysia a vibrant knowledge economy.

The sacrifice of the career of nationalistic politicians would be a cheap price to pay for advancing Malaysia. If things go on as they do now, we had better wished that we had the oil palm and rubber estates back in our hands instead of a desert of real estate development.