I refer to Arbibi Ashoy's Unemployed grad problem partly due to employers . He gave us a very simple analysis of the cause of graduate unemployment in this country. He implies that employment of graduates in this country is controlled by non-bumiputeras.

I am an employer with many businesses and in my circle of business contacts (and it is a big group) I do not know one that would choose race over result. Employers are profit-oriented. They, above all, must be objective and rational.

Today, the competitive business environment and discriminatory government policies in Malaysia make it deadly not to focus on results, even for a short period.

I know the statistics of graduate unemployment well because I have had to confront it, having had difficulty hiring qualified candidates for my many businesses.

I have given opportunity after opportunity to many graduates that have disappointed me time and again. I have no choice - I need people and I need good people. I don't even look at qualifications much.

I look for skills, especially learning skills, commitment to work and career. I pay above the market rate. I hire anyone on trial-and-error basis, but sadly, too many fail me.

Harry Lee is correct in stating that the education system needs revamping, but I am even more critical in that I believe the root cause is still the NEP/NDP.

Not only does the NEP/NDP provide a disincentive for market-demanded work and enterprise for the bumiputeras, it causes the non-bumiputeras to distrust the system and look for short-term gains rather than work for long-term gains.

In their education and work career, the result to me is devastating. Graduates do not develop long-term market-oriented skills and goals, they look at short-term pay, do not take any risks and avoid responsibilities and challenges.

However, to share positive experience, let me say that there is one group that I am grateful for, which is women bumiputeras, especially single bumiputera mothers and divorcees.

They are motivated, focussed and are willing to learn and take on responsibilities.

The only caveat I have to say is the non-graduates of this group have even worse results than the other categories. Generally, the better their education, the less the problems.

It is ridiculous to believe that employers are indulgent and can afford not to be focussed on results. As an employer, I tell you that my businesses own me, not the other way around. My employees dictate what I can do.

We cannot be in business for social causes. It is bad enough that the government has wrong policies that we have to cope with. To indulge in non-productive business practises would literally murder my business.