While I agree with YC's conclusion that the MSC's grand vision is hopeless ( No change, no hope for MSC ), I disagree with his reasons. MSC's failure is simply due to a lack of meritocracy wrought by the New Economic Policy.

As an IT veteran, I have seen how things changed from the days when kids in garages in the US could make it big to dominate the industry in Seattle and Silicon Valley today. Malaysia was late in the game and had a weak foundation of technical skills to begin with so MSC never really had a good chance. With global competition from India and China, the probability of success was even slimmer.

The problem began years ago when NEP tainted the education system  quota system; lack of meritocracy of teaching staff and the Education Ministry, etc. all contributed to its fall. Coupled with industrial and economic policies made by the less than the best we had and continued through the MSC, there was never really a chance it would work.

However, the truth is thousands of Malaysian — mostly non-bumiputra — have made it pretty big in IT in Singapore, US, Europe and Australasia. The founder and chief executive officer of System Access, one of the largest regional IT companies based in Singapore, is a former Alor Star boy. Even the former head of Microsoft Malaysia now lives in Seattle and reports to Miscrosoft CEO Steve Balmer.

Racism and lack of meritocracy are the bane of Malaysia global competitiveness and the clock is ticking even faster. To be globally competitive, especially in leading-edge industries, we have to eliminate NEP first and foremost. And encourage creativity among our people as it has become even more important today.