It is now abundantly clear that our bumiputeras have achieved a 45% or more of corporate equity in the country. The NEP plan of nearly 40 years saw the light at last. The truth is undeniable because the government does not want to release the EPU's own data or methodology used in arriving at its own figure of 18.9% or challenge the figures given by Asli under the stewardship of Dr Lim Teck Ghee.

Political slogans or cliches like 'it is rubbish', 'wrong data method used, etc' as answers to the rakyat only create plenty of doubts in the people's minds.

Actually Umno, and in particular Dr Mahathir Mohamad, should be congratulated for this greatest achievement of the bumis. The Malay leaders and all the non-Malays (the latter for their give-and-take attitude) should celebrate the occasion. So why this shock and unhappiness from the Umno leaders?

We cannot hoodwink the people all the time. About 35% of the Malays are of the middle-class today and they are a few million in number. Are they all beneficiaries of this 45% corporate wealth directly? The answer is no. It is also a 'no' for the Chinese or the Indian middle-class. All cannot grab opportunities; only those in close contact with the powers-that-be will be the winners rightly or wrongly. This is the fact and reality of life in Malaysia.

But for how long will these educated and well-informed middle-class people of all races remain silent and stomach all the garbage the leaders sing? I hope Pak Lah and his 'company' realise this and stop playing racial politics when race is not an issue. Class or category of the people at different levels of livelihood is the real issue.

Therefore, the government of today should address the issue of eradicating poverty without any racial distinction and keep all systems - whether business or education - open and fair so that we can survive as a nation in this global village. The large number of educated Malay middle-class can and will succeed significantly both locally and internationally. They don't need the crutches anymore. Please give them that honour and credit now that truth is known.