International law does not recognise the use of history to advance one's claims. Period.

ATTENDING a Barisan Nasional dinner five days ago, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob made an unusual appeal.

High praises were sung at the Universiti Malaya law faculty's jubilee celebration last Friday (June 17). The list of successful alumni is long, and we cheered with great pride that the half-century-old faculty has successfully produced great legal minds. Minds trained to prevail in the national interest and to uphold Malaysian laws, customs and traditions. We cheered even louder when the Prime Minister emphasised the fact that all three branches of government today are led by Universiti Malaya law faculty alumni.

I have nothing against Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob globetrotting to promote the use of the Malay language although I'm fearful that this is another jingoistic, vote-chasing "hangat-hangat tahi ayam" thing. And as if to thumb the nose at the Prime Minister's folly, the Sarawak government is allowing English to be used in the state's administration.