Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is right to “uplift the bumiputra to a respected level in society”. In fact a great deal has already been achieved by the government over the years especially since 1970.

He also emphasised this important government commitment at the opening of the Bumiputra Education Tour (JPB) 2017 at the Bera district council field yesterday.

His noble goal is “to help students from low-income families and rural areas to enter higher education institutions”.

But YAB, the public and especially the non-bumis will ask the vital question - will the JPB programme include bright but poor and urban non-bumi students as well, or will it be exclusively for the bumis?

If the JPB programme is to apply exclusively to bumi students, then we are planting the seeds for disunity and a failing state.

I agree with the prime minister's claim that Malaysia is not a failed state - as of now. But we can become a failing and even a failed State if our public policies continue to be race- and religious-based and not income- and needs-based.

So it is essential that our prime minister and government fully clarify this sensitive issue to all Malaysians, particularly at this time of the coming general election, please?

The PM is laudable when he says that that the government “strives to ensure that no student is deprived of the opportunity to further his or her studies due to poverty”.

But we all know of many really poor and bright Malaysian youth and especially non-Malays and non-bumi who are deeply frustrated because they have been excluded from educational opportunities. Instead many and more non-bumi have not been included under government policies to help the poor, regardless of race.

After all that was the original intention of the New Economic Policy, as I remember it from 1970. We have become unnecessarily exclusive for the Malays and bumi and have sadly marginalised many poor but bright non-Malays over the years.

I must stress that this exclusive policy will further undermine our strained national unity and national well-being, peace and prosperity. From now and on to TN50, we must become more inclusive and less exclusive ,or we will become more and more a failing state and then a failed state.

Therefore, please Mr Prime Minister, lead us once again, like our beloved Founding Fathers did, along the path of national unity and inclusiveness.

Please pursue income- and need-based policies, rather than race- and religious-based concerns and issues that will slowly but surely ruin our beloved country. We have to be more inclusive to ensure greater progress, peace and sustainability in the future.

That, YAB Najib, should be your grand legacy, like that of our illustrious prime minister and your late dear father, Abdul Razak Hussein.

It is a great challenge but can be achieved under the national cry - Malaysia Boleh.

RAMON NAVARATNAM is chairperson of Asli/Centre for Public Policy Studies.