I read with interest the view points of letters on the issue of special rights of bumiputeras. In most of these letters these rights were pointed out as Malay special rights, not recognising that many bumiputeras, who are not Malays nor Muslims, also benefitted from its implementation.

One writer mentions that many non-Malays may move to another country that practices equal rights. I have yet to come across any developed country that truly practices equal rights for all its citizens of different faith and ethnicity.

Most merely say equal rights in form, but not in function. If we look at Asian migrants in developed countries, most tend to live within their own communities and prosper through family-owned businesses. Even amongst those who are highly educated, very few make it into the top echelons of large national or multinational enterprises.

In many cases their children and grandchildren find that to succeed in these societies, they have to assimilate and give up their cultural heritage and mother tongue. And let's not even think about them having much political say in that 'country of equal rights.'

Malaysia is a very tolerant country in which citizens of various faith and ethnicity can succeed and prosper with their identities intact. More than two-thirds of the country's prosperity still goes to the non-Malays, who make up less than half of the population. We are even the largest pig farming country in Asia, outside of mainland China.

TA Loh was right in saying that the pertinent issue here is that these special rights have been abused. The intention of special rights should be to raise the level of education and prosperity among the numerous poor bumiputeras in this country.

That it has not done so in all these years in not that such affirmative action is doomed to fail but that vested interests do not implement it as intended. This factor has made both the Malay and non-Malay unhappy with it - although for different reasons.

Fair and equitable distribution of the prosperity that we enjoy in this country will ensure that our peace and harmony survives. That would probably require a mindset shift within our society.

Once the various segments of society are at par with one another, meritocracy can be fully implemented. Free competition will only be fair competition when the participants can compete on equal ground.