Political leaders in the BN government, I am convinced now, do not love the country. They love the money and possibly their political party more than they do the country. By continuing to perpetuate the NEP and overt discrimination policies, the BN government is killing the country.

Firstly, it spawns a culture of graft and cronyism amongst those who are favoured. The leakages as seen year after year through the Auditor-General’s report are evidence that contracts are given to those who are favoured and not necessarily those who are competent. As such, this kills the true spirit of competition and destroys productivity and a spirit of excellence which this country needs so badly. Those who truly need aid, those who are below the poverty line are not receiving the help promised under the NEP. Instead vultures and middlemen cronies who circle Putrajaya looking for contracts are the ones who gain time after time.

Secondly, the BN government divides the nation and the people between those who are politically correct and those who are not. Government-linked companies (GLCs) have publicly announced policies that say that they only purchase from bumiputera companies. If other Malaysian-owned companies (non-bumiputera owned) decide that they will only deal with non-bumiputera companies, then we have a situation of racial discord and possibly economic turmoil. Having a coalition government divided according to races is archaic and unnecessary. It is divisive and detrimental to the country’s future.

Thirdly, the country is so focused on this issue of race-based policies that it does not realise that the enemy lies outside of its borders. We are losing competitive ground to countries in Southeast Asia which have reformed their political system in some way or another like Indonesia and Vietnam. Even Singapore - which shares a common history with Malaysia and which has no land nor natural resources - has superseded Malaysia in FDIs and GDP figures.

Which company or businessman would want to invest a huge sum of money or even list on our stock exchange knowing that they will have to maintain a portion of shares for a certain ethnic group in accordance with the NEP. It does not make any business sense. While our executive and courtiers continue to fiddle, the country is burning.

Fourthly, continued perpetuation of this NEP policy is driving away talent albeit non-bumiputera talent. Perhaps, BN leaders are quietly happy that non-bumiputera talent are leaving the country in droves. As the Perak and Selangor royal houses have pointed out, the benefactors of this racist policies are countries like Singapore, US, Australia and China. I personally know of a Chinese Malaysian doctor who applied to return but was asked to sit for examinations again. She now heads the oncology department in a major hospital in the US.

I have met many professionals who are in the process of wrapping it up here and leaving for Australia. They have had enough. The push factor is real and very strong and it is certainly gaining momentum.

The people who support the NEP are also supporters of the incumbent BN government. The government would in no way want to jepordise its favourable standing with those who support them. As such they continue to spew out racist remarks in perpetuating their rule irregardless of the direction of the country as a whole. Continuing to remind the other races of their lowly standing and the social contract which our forefathers entered into.

Surely, by now, after five decades of blood, sweat and tears, our debt for a true Malaysian citizenship has been paid for in full through the many generations of Chinese and Indians born here in this land we call Malaysia.