RAFFLESIANS - those who have studied in one of the Raffles schools - are elitists. True?

Author Mr Tan Guan Heng, 71, himself a Rafflesian, thinks this may be the case for the younger generation of students walking through the Raffles schools' gates.

"Elitism is something Rafflesians have to live with because you cannot deny that we have built a strong and well-known family of schools," said Mr Tan at yesterday's press conference for his latest book, 100 Inspiring Rafflesians.

The book profiles some of the most prominent names in Singapore's public and private sectors today.

"The older generation of Rafflesians mostly came from very poor families and had to work hard to get to where they are today. The younger ones these days come from more privileged backgrounds and may not appreciate the true Raffles tradition of public service," he added.

He hoped that younger Rafflesians will be inspired by the book to reach out to the less fortunate.

But against his charge, younger Rafflesians past and present pipe up a collectively vehement denial.

Ex-Raffles Girls School and University of Melbourne student Miss Koo Qihui, 22, said:"Elitism is determined more by your personal attitude rather than which school you came from.

"You could be really good in what you do, but you don't have to have the attitude that you are better than everyone else."

Added Raffles Institution student Daniel Wong, 16: "It's not quite fair to generalise that everyone in RI is privileged."