I read with interest the letter entitled APs bad, but race-based house pricing worse which expressed disgust at the additional price non-bumiputeras have to pay when purchasing houses.

Yes, it is true that the NEP has been twisted to favour the bumiputeras. While the NEP was supposed to help the poor, irrespective of race, it is no secret that poor non-bumis have to pay full purchase price for houses whereas rich bumis get the discount.

While I, too, feel disheartened and disillusioned at this blatant twist, it is a wonder whether it is only the NEP that is twisted. After all we have a non-bumi minister in charge of housing and he does not seem to be bothered about this inequality at all.

This travesty is sure to continue unabated because we, the common people, have stamped and approved their actions. This is a free-market and none of us are forced to buy houses. Non-bumis have the option not to buy houses priced higher than those for bumis but sadly, they go on a mad rush to buy these houses.

We have the choice to collectively put a stop to this but who really cares? Malaysian society is governed by apathy and greed and the materialistic instinct is quite strong. Of course, there are exceptional characters but the general pattern is what has been described.

So, when the common people do not give a hoot or at least do not appear to give a hoot about these policies, the one or two voices which raise these issues will be drowned out in the clumsy action of the masses.

The argument that the common man is also concerned would not hold water then and this would always be true as long as words are not matched by deeds. Many talk about these inequalities but do nothing about it. When the last frontier has fallen, there is no defence at all.