Islam Hadhari? Towering Malays ? In Malaysia? But what would happen to the NEP? To Umno? To special privileges? They former can't exist at the same time with the latter because they do not share the same values. As a matter of fact they are the exact opposites.

The Malays have been taught the wrong ideology and values (NEP, Umno special privileges etc.) and it is going to be very difficult for them to achieve the noble aims of Islam Hadhari and to create 'Towering Malays'.

For decades the Malays were made to think and believe that material gains and submission to their political masters were the values and ingredients of the day that would bring them untold success. New administrations have had their own catchy slogans to distinguish and separate the various regimes in the country. 'Sekali bah sekali pantai berubah', so to speak.

And now there is a shift to these new lofty values. The people of old are to be deprived of new opportunities and the people of new are to be rewarded. Imagine a situation where the old service counter is closed and a new one is opened at the opposite end of the queue!

To put it simply, what the ruling elite says or does will only benefit them and their cronies. I have witnessed these on many occasions up close and personal for more than 30 years.

To young patriots, I urge you not to lose faith in your Bangsa Melayu. But you must be willing to accept the reality that the policies like the NEP (or the ISA for that matter) on the pretext of leveling the playing field has instead stifled and choked the very creativity and imagination needed for us to succeed in the modern world.

These crutches and respirators were cobbled by your own leaders to protect their own self-interests, the same self-interests that are holding you back.

If the Malay leadership is sincere and serious about achieving the noble aims of Islam Hadhari and in creating Towering Malays, it must first these replace these policies with those that do not take into account race, creed or religion.

Only then will we create 'Towering Malays' that we are proud to claim our own.