I was quite shocked to read an article presumably released by a parliamentary report (2003) that over 6,000 APs out of 12,000 issued by Rafidah Aziz's ministry, were given to S M Nasimuddin and his related companies.

Given that the current market value of an AP is RM40,000, the total value of 6,000 APs works out conservatively at RM240 million.

Now the question that begs to be answered is why Rafidah's ministry deemed it necessary to bequeath such astounding wealth to a single bumiputra individual.

APs are highly marketable instruments and possession of one is akin to a licence to print money. If the government is sincere in wanting to help bumiputera entrepreneurs, why can't they distribute this instant money-making venture to several hundred bumiputera businessman rather than to a single individual.

Or is there more to it than what the surface indicates. Perhaps, there is more than one individual in Rafidah's ministry benefitting from the deal.

It's about time the government abolish the issuance of these APs. It's a vestige of the corrupt past and the manner it is given out reflects poorly on government transparency.

Giving out APs is surely not teaching bumiputeras how to be good entrepreneurs. My 10- year-old son can just as well know how to accumulate wealth if he is given 6,000 APs a year.