I fully agree with Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam that it is a matter of time before Singapore has a non-Chinese prime minister ("PM from minority race 'a matter of time'"; last Saturday).

The reason is simple: Meritocracy is the core of Singapore system. The key is the sustainability of this belief system, and I have confidence in it.

Our education system, with English as the medium of instruction, is a successful one. It unites all Singaporeans, whatever language they speak at home. The concept of meritocracy is also drummed into students from a young age.

Sim Lim Onn