At the World Economic Forum which ended recently in Davos, Switzerland, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted in a news report as saying: '... on the human rights issue, Malaysia shares Switzerland's concern that countries should not practise double standards'.

It was most astonishing to hear such words from the PM. There are only two conclusions. One, he is lying to the world, or two, he is so ignorant of what is happening around him in the country.

When I first read this report, goose bumps surfaced on my hands and, in fact, my hair is still standing up. I am ashamed of him.

You do not need to be a highly-educated Malaysian to know the fact that many of us non-bumiputeras are subject to less privileges in this country from education scholarships and job opportunities and promotional opportunities to obtaining government contracts and purchasing houses.

For example, many rich Malays enjoy a 7% discount for the purchase of new houses because of the subsidies provided by non-Malays who have to pay the full sum, the price of which is inflated by developers to cover the discounts. There is also the allotment of shares in newly-listed companies for which bumiputeras are first choice.

Are all these not double standards? A slow glance around us will show that there are millions of non-Malays who are still living in poverty with no help at all from the BN government. Yet, they share the same burden of the increased fuel charges, higher utilities cost and the recent uncaring increase in toll rates.

Can it then be said that the BN government led by Pak Lah is not practising double standards? Come on Pak Lah, practice what you preach and do not be a hypocrite.