I refer to Sandy Mas' letter, 'DAP's chauvinistic tune', (May 16). In questioning why the DAP did not comment on the bumiputra to non-bumiputra ratio of students in private colleges and overseas universities, as well as that of professionals in various sectors, the writer seems to totally misunderstand what the quota system implemented by the government is about.

Public universities and institutions of higher learning are set up and run using public funds. In other words - taxpayers' money, with all races being taxed on the same rate . Therefore every citizen should have the fundamental right to enjoy the same benefits provided by these public-funded institutions.

In private colleges and universities, local or overseas, students pay a hefty sum for the tuition fees. Except for some privileged few from wealthy families who do not even consider the local universities as an option, most are from middle- or working-class families who have to take a study loan or use their parents' life savings to pay for the fees. And there are some who do not even have such avenues.

Imagine the frustration and anger faced by those high-performing students who studied so hard to achieve good results hoping to get a place in a public university to realise their dreams but ended up being told by the government that - sorry, though your results are excellent, we cannot offer you a place because you are a 'bumi-tak-putra'.

With regard to overseas universities, do we know how many bumiputra students are being sent there by the Public Services Department and Petronas using public funds?

The statistics on the intake ratio are guarded closely by the Education Ministry. The officers can choose only to tell the figures that are seem to be non-favorable to bumiputras. That was why the director in the higher education department announced one set of statistics of the total intake for this year's enrolment one day and has to change it the very next day after being challenged on the accuracy of the figures.

On the suggestion that a ratio of bumiputras and 'bumi-tak-putras' be set in the professional fields too, I believe in lending a helping hand to those lagging, but not at the expense of holding back the progress of others, which also affects that of the entire country.

The issue of the bumiputra to non-bumiputra ratio in many sectors has also been raised. Has anyone made a study on the ratio of bumiputra to non-bumiputra chairpersons in all the KLSE-listed companies? That would be interesting to find out.