While the Bukit Batok by-election results could indicate a heartening progress towards race blindness, the assimilation of the various ethnic groups will remain a work in progress as long as there are ethnic minority groups in our community ("Election result shows progress towards race blindness" by Mr S. Ratnakumar; May 10).

Hence, it would be counterproductive to disband the group representation constituency scheme ("Rethink need for GRC scheme" by Mr Tan Peng Boon; May 10, and "GRCs still essential" by Mr Philip Sim Ah Tee; May 12).

In introducing the GRC scheme, our pioneer generation of leaders thought long and hard about what is best for Singapore and Singaporeans. This should not be taken lightly.

In the context of the Bukit Batok by-election, it is important to note that the candidate had the considerable support of top politicians from different ethnic groups - in itself, a play on the GRC scheme.

In a general election, however, such heavyweight officials will have to tend to their own constituencies, and may not be able to support minority candidates in single member constituencies, due to time constraints.

In the words of Aristotle, "one swallow does not a summer make".

It will, therefore, be prudent not to be too hasty to draw conclusions based on this by-election.

Srirekam Kesava Purushotham