The big commotion about Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's statement about the marginalisation of the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia is something that has been blown out of proportion.

The Malay ministers do it almost daily in the controlled media and by other political means. Only by harping on racial lines do these ministers feel that they have done their job and have reached the masses that voted for them. Therefore if this can be allowed at one end why can't a elder statesman like LKY comment?

We know darn well that even if there are brave Chinese politicians in Malaysia who would love to comment in support of LKY, they will be admonished if they are in the ruling coalition and may be even be arrested if they are in the opposition. That's the state of the freedom of expression in Malaysia.

Even after 49 years of independence, we still walk the very thin racial line that are filled with loaded mines. Therefore if this racial-based upliftment policy is something that is going to be perpetual then, as citizens and neighbours within this region, the people ought to know and be allowed to question the policy which affects their daily lives.

The former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had himself stated that the ethnic Chinese are the largest taxpayers in Malaysia. Therefore looking at the whole picture ethically, most of the money spent on development by the government comes from the coffers of the ethnic Chinese.

Instead of stressing the need for continued government aid the economic status of the under- privileged bumiputeras, the government and the policy-makers should push initiatives for the upliftment of the bumi mindset. The slogan-based cajoling like when are we going to walk without the 'tongkat' or the crutches doesn't seem to seep into the mindset of the masses.

They know very well that it will all be forgotten as quickly as it is uttered. If it is felt that government aid is a birthright, then lessons in the history of societies where continued assistance is always a must will show that these societies are prone to be colonised.

Our history will quite clearly show the same. Mindset change will have to be made at the expense of political patronage and a leader with a focused agenda to see the whole community come out of this predicament should be supported and encouraged.

It is well known that only a small percentage of the bumiputeras who form the elite ruling and corporate class amass the lion's share of what is actually supposed to be spread out amongst all bumiputeras. Therefore, there is class differentiation amongst the bumiputeras themselves at the expense of the masses in general.

Unless such corrective affirmative actions are carried out without delay, it won't be a surprise if we are colonised again. Till then, the ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indians will be slowly and surely be marginalised to keep their economic development at a level which will be advantageous to the bumiputeras.