The issues discussed and reported in the mainstream media involving the recently concluded Umno general assembly brings concern to Malaysians of all races. It is foolish to deny that the racial undertones at the meet did not cause a measure of alarm among the non-bumiputeras in our country.

We have either deliberately chosen to ignore the real reasons behind the whole issue of under-achieving and marginalised Malays despite all kinds of privileges and hand-outs or the powers-that-be must be blind.

Why is it so hard to face facts? Why not just admit that all these hand-outs and demands for more and more concessions and quotas are just a shoddy attempt to enrich the few who are privileged enough to connect with those in power?

When exactly did the NEP and all those well-thought out schemes uplift the bumiputeras? When did they actually benefit the bumiputera man-on-the-street? I see the kampung folk as poor as always.

I see the Malay small traders, teachers, the salaried man, the housewives with half-a-dozen kids, entire families on motorcycles all of them struggling to make ends meet.

It is a shame that the NEP had only succeeded in creating a bigger gap between the rich bumi and the poor bumi. Or is it more correct to say the elite bumi and the ordinary bumi? That is the reality of the plight of the bumis.

And I certainly agree that after so many years of independence, it is sad to face the reality that sometimes, the non-bumiputeras are made to feel like we do not have a right to call ourselves Malaysians.

When it serves their purpose, it is demanded that all of us show our loyalty to our country, whether by words or action. It is not enough that we are born and bred here, that our parents were also born and bred here, that this is our home and that we accept a way of life imposed on us which sometimes puts us at an unfair disadvantage.

If we do not agree, then we are told, If anyone doesn't like it, just get out of Malaysia .

Why is it that our government does not see that abject poverty also affects the Chinese and Indians? The marginalisation of the poor and disadvantaged, regardless of their race, is simply morally wrong.

If we are to face the truth, there are many Malaysians be they Malay, Chinese or Indian, who live a life poorer than that of the immigrants (legal or otherwise) who come to our country, who take away our jobs and our money and in the process, create a lot of hellish social problems for us.

Umno can make demands, and where necessary, even intimidate the rest of us into accepting policies which are morally questionable. I wonder whether at the end of the day, when it has eradicated Malay poverty, will they then have a compassionate heart and have pity on the marginalised Indians and Chinese?

Will they be generous enough to extend a helping hand in the same manner they helped their own race? Then, maybe we can truly see the spirit of Bangsa Malaysia. Just as there exist a gap between the successful and rich bumiputeras, there also is a huge gap between the rich Chinese and Indians and the ordinary folk.

So please, for goodness sake, do not talk as if there are no deserving non-bumiputera folk out there who also need a helping hand. We too, wished that we have a NEP to help us get out of the rut.