It is very distressing to note that bumiputeras like Rudi Sofian still feel they have been discriminated against by non-bumiputera companies in the private sector. This is an old issue and it will go on until Malaysia is truly a fully developed nation practising true meritocracy.

With a national policy in favour of the bumiputeras in general, Rudi's lament of bumiputeras being discriminated against in the private sector seems too demanding, to say the least.

When we analyse the history and background of non-bumiputera companies, most of the present big companies started small and grew over the years because of the foresight and thrift by their founders.

At the time when land prices were really cheap, they bought land whenever they had spare cash. Over the years, land prices have risen by leaps and bounds, especially in big towns like Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore.

Of course, there were the usual cases of non-bumiputeras who benefitted from their close relationships with the ruling politicians. Then we have those natural entrepreneurs who, in spite of their lack of education and training, made good because of their inherent ability to take advantage of new opportunities.

Having established their companies, isn't it natural for anyone, irrespective of race, to try to keep their organisations within the family? Here again, there are problems like no heirs or children who are not interested in running the business and children who cannot be trusted.

A rational businessman would rate management ability and integrity high among the attributes he would look for in managers. Employees from outside the family would likely to have risen from rank and file, with proven ability and trust.

If the business involves dealing with fellow Chinese businessmen, for instance, obviously someone who can speak the boss's Chinese dialect is preferred. In this case, even Chinese face problems as not all Chinese can speak a specific dialect. Not all Chinese, too, can read or write in Mandarin. Would a bumiputera company employ a Chinese who cannot understand Bahasa Malaysia?

Chinese companies who have business dealings with government departments are more than willing to employ suitable bumiputera. More than 10 years ago, as a manager in a small housing development company, I selected a female bumi graduate in finance for an interview simply because she was born in my wife's hometown.

Because she had been looking for a job for several months, she was willing to accept the low pay so long as it was enough to cover her expenses. Our company gave her two increments within a year because of her ability.

The company even gave her a small loan as down payment to buy one of our project's houses. Couple of years later, because our company's key person passed on, she looked for another job in a government-linked company and was promoted to a manager after a few years.

She did acknowledge me as her mentor because I took the trouble to explain the rationale of business transactions instead of just giving her instructions to follow. It was so gratifying to know of her success.

Instead of barking up the wrong tree and feeling embittered about what little the non-bumiputeras have for themselves, perhaps the bumiputeras should look into the unjust practices among themselves like Approved Permits issued to undeserving people?

The crux of it all is whether allegations of bias towards bumiputeras and prejudice against non-bumis are true. If they are, should we then keep quiet and pretend that all is well?

All we are asking for is truth and transparency in all government policies including affirmative action ones. Is that too much to ask for?