Ahead of the unveiling of the National Education Blueprint on Tuesday, our columnist shares why an education steeped in the humanities is needed to produce open-minded and competitive citizens.

DURING a trip to Iran about 11 years ago, Iranian activists, academics and lawyers I met who had turned against the Islamic revolution said they overthrew the Shah in order to have a modern, prosperous democratic country like Malaysia.

ARE our politicians plain bad, crazy or stupid? In this divisive, corrosive, cynical political climate of ours, if I were the Opposition, I would jump and present my party as the party of first and obvious choice for the electorate.

It behoves on governments and their religious apparatus to watch current developments in the Arab world closely.

Political leaders must work together to delegitimise extreme and intolerant voices. The public cannot be given mixed and confusing signals.

A great fan of Malaysia, the late Egyptian scholar Dr Fathi Osman saw this country as a place where progressive

The Prime Minister's message of change or perish is being drowned by the endless sabre rattling on race and religion by politicians and many of our national leaders.

A news report titled The End of Men suggests that the idea of men being the dominant sex is changing, and the trends are there for all to see, even in Malaysia.

Early marriage can have serious harmful consequences for children. The figures show that is a problem that crosses all races and states, raising many disturbing questions that need to be answered.

Our obsession with control and conformity in thought and behaviour discourages the young from embracing diversity.

The realities on the ground have changed; our political leaders and governing institutions need to undertake the transformation needed.

Malaysians are tired of ideologues and demagogues who turn every difference of opinion into a threat to the survival of race and religion.