I wish to refer to M Sahaja's letter Let's hear from the Vincent Tans, Goh Tongs and Anandas .

M Sahaja seems to have missed the main point of contention in complaints that the Chinese or Indians are being marginalised. The complainants are generally against the unfairness of the policies under NEP where race is the main factor and individuals are made to suffer through no fault of theirs.

By complaining about being marginalised, the complainants are not condoning the unfair advantages given to the likes of Vincent Tans, Goh Tongs and Anandas. It is a known fact that there exists a symbiotic relationship between cronies in business and the ruling party.

But what difference does it make to ordinary folk whether billionaires are created within their own race? How could their good fortunes be used to penalise deserving students who work hard under the mistaken impression that the rewards of admission and scholarships are meant for those with excellent results?

I would, however, support M Sahaja's question: 'There are sufficient Chinese and Indian representation in the government. What are they doing?'

So long as MCA and MIC leaders are given ministerial down to town councillor positions, they will gladly nod their heads when required to to provide a facade of fair racial composition in the political leadership.

Ample time has passed and the effects seem to show that there are serious leakages in the implementation of public projects. Besides creating animosity between the major races, these policy failures have resulted in many instances of wastage of public funds, unfinished contracts and additional costs.

Instead of providing funds to those who really deserve, there are many cases of chosen ones getting contracts first then looking for the people to undertake them. The recent allocation of RM3 million for each Umno division really takes the cake. The money is to be spent within a few weeks and their job is to find the work (read, excuses) to use it.

The principle of a 'new Bumiputeraism' which is being put forward by Dr Azly Rahman shows that even Malays are feeling uncomfortable over the use of race to solve our national problems. He suggested a starting point where: "We hold these truths to be self-evident and Divine-ly sanctioned in that all Malaysians are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator the inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, happiness, justice and social equality .. and we shall resoundingly declare that from now on we will be constructed as equal and be called 'the new bumiputera...'

I am of the opinion that it is time to have a Bangsa Malaysia where every Malaysian is treated as one. The time has come to do away with the NEP, as suggested by Anwar Ibrahim, especially since the intended beneficiaries do not get their just aid which has instead been snatched by those who are politically-connected to the ruling party.