That was Mr Loh's assessment of the missing thrower Dong Enxin (missing since last September). But where was Mr Loh's apology to the real losers of that enormous sum of money?

Where did the money come from that was used to pay for Dong's training, studies, lodging, food and other expenses? Did it come from only the SAA? Or was it also from Singaporeans?

The search for outside talent to win medals at international meets has led to several costly mistakes, not just this one.

We should really applaud the courage, wisdom and patience of the people behind the success of our sailing teams. They put their faith in young native Singa-

poreans, trained them for years and finally harvested the hard-won medals last year.

We should believe more firmly in the abilities of Singaporeans and take the long-term view in this field and in other areas.

Some things, like sports and education, take time to mature and bear fruit. Quick fixes seldom last but may, in fact, cause a lot of damage in the future.

Patricia Maria De Souza