The call to revive the failed New Economic Policy (NEP) is, to say the least, reactionary because it is premised on the outdated assumption that the alleged backwardness of the Malay community is attributable to a negative role played by non-Malay Malaysians and Western colonialism of the past. Let us critically examine and dismantle this outdated assumption.

While it was true that Malaysia was once colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Japanese (and again British) imperialism, it is also equally true that Malaysia has achieved independence since 1957. And in the past 48 years, Malaysia has benefitted from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), technology transfer, military assistance as well as foreign aid for economic development.

Thousands of Malaysian students and academics, including many bumiputeras, have received scholarships and study grants from developed countries to upgrade themselves.

Therefore, the 'West' has paid back and to continue to harp on the past injustices of the colonial times does not seem to be very honest.

Also, non-bumiputeras had suffered enough during the 20-year implementation and gross abuse of the New Economic Policy from 1970 to 1990. Thousands of qualified Chinese and Indian youths were deprived of higher education opportunities in their own country.

Many families were tremendous financial strain because of the need to send their children to Britain, Australia, the United States, Singapore, Canada or New Zealand for further studies. Businessmen, meanwhile, had to struggle not only against foreign competition, but also domestic discrimination.

Meanwhile, the exclusionist policy of the civil service with regards to recruitment ensured that non-Malay Malaysians could not rely on the state for a government job.

Personally, I think the sacrifices made by non-bumiputeras could have been considered worth the while had the income, wealth and economic opportunities of the country been distributed productively and equitably within the bumi community. But what happened?

The income, wealth and economic opportunities sacrificed by non-bumis for the bumis has been milked by a clique of Umnoputeras to enrich only themselves and their children besides being wasted on conspicuous and vainglorious consumption by a tiny portion of the crony class.

Is it fair to now ask the non-bumis to sacrifice and suffer again for this sin of betrayal and breach of trust committed by the Umnoputeras against the bumi community?

Look at Putrajaya. How many - bumis and non-bumis alike- have actually benefitted productively from it? The same can be said of other white elephants.

Look at the AP list . How many squatters, fishermen, hawkers, taxi drivers, policemen, soldiers, factory workers, farmers, small-and-medium businessmen, teachers, nurses and lower ranking civil servants be they Malay or non-Malay Malaysians have benefitted from this lucrative handout from the state?

Seen in this light, it is clear that any revival of the NEP would be tantamount to a repetition of a known failure. Why repeat a known failure? Are we out of our mind?

It is time Umnoputeras come to their senses and ask for the forgiveness of the whole nation for the sins they have committed against their fellow citizens over the past 35 years. It is time Malaysian for all races to unite and say no to the predatory greed of these Umnoputeras.