I plead to those who have the idea that scholarships are to help needy students to give some thought to Johor Umno delegate Dr Mohd Puad Zarkhasi's question, 'Can a Malay student living in a remote area, which 'lacks everything', compete with a non-Malay student living in an urban area?'

I really don't understand why Malay has got to be compared to non-Malay when there are also students of other races living in a remote areas. Moreover, he could also question the ability of Malays from different social tiers and living environments competing amongst each other.

As a Malaysian studying abroad who is solely supported by her family who has to work hard just so because their daughter wishes to become a medical doctor, I know I am lucky. I have countless of Malaysian friends whom I met overseas who had to count on banks loans to complete their education.

They are not from wealthy families or grew up in posh urban areas. We are just a bunch who know that:

we will never get the scholarships needed,

that despite the fact we came out with top grades studying in non-urban schools,

that only perseverance can make us who we want to be are now and,

loans with high interest rates will need to be returned and hence, we will need to work just as hard, if not harder, in the future.

Anyone on the street can dissect clearly that our government's current scholarship system is flawed. Clearly not everyone who gets it deserves it but what make it worse is that it's given to people who are not returning the good deed.

The theory is simple. If one knows that he will get what he wants handed on a platter, one will never need to work as hard as his other counterparts. Hence, the reason why bumiputeras fail to excel in their studies.

If everyone is put back on a balance, competitive playing field, I don't see why Darwin's selection theory will not come into play to ensure the bumiputeras become as strong as their peers.