The NEP (and its NDP successor) has certainly favoured the Malays in very aspect and dimension of Malaysia within the control of the government, particularly during the Mahathir era. Significant proportion of non-Malays, especially working-class Chinese and Indians, have been victims. But, when seen holistically in the light of the global economy and competition beyond the Malaysian shores, we may see things differently.

The unfavourable conditions created by the NEP in business, employment, education, housing, etc. have made it necessary for the Chinese and Indians and others to work very hard to achieve results. The NEP obstacle race, staged and manipulated by unscrupulous political leaders and civil servants based on their own interpretation of the NEP (contrary to that explicitly and unequivocally defined when the NEP was created and endorsed by both Malays and non-Malays in the early 1970s), was an exclusive event for non-Malays.

Malays were denied the opportunity to run in this 'marathon' exclusively hosted for non-Malays. The result is that the non-Malays have equipped themselves with invaluable skills and capabilities relating to competition and survival. The non-Malays have become even more resilient and resourceful (skills, noted by Dr Mahathir himself in his 'Malay Dilemma, as essential for Malays to compete with the Chinese), thereby equipping themselves for the growing challenges not only in Malaysia but in the world at large.

Meanwhile, a significant number of Malays have become even more handicapped in the matter of perseverance, resilience and ability to overcome obstacles and hardship, all essential qualities for any community to achieve sustainable success.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to say that the Malays have not progressed as a result of the NEP. The question is - to what extent, and is it sustainable? The 1997/1998 economic crisis revealed the quality of the progress. While most Chinese businesses weathered the economic downturn, many Malay entrepreneurs and businesses, which until then were projected as

exemplars of NEP success, were in deep trouble and had to be bailed out by the government.

These Malay businessmen were not equipped with the resilience and resourcefulness necessary to overcome problems and calamities. Unless these skills are developed in the Malay businessmen,

their success via NEP or otherwise, will not be sustainable.

An NEP implemented in its true form and spirit will help to create a more resilient and capable Malay community. This calls for implementation of policies based on socio-economic class (rather than race), the essence of the NEP when it was first formulated. The poor Malay as well as the poor non-Malay would be favoured over the better-off Malaysians and given help and support.

But once one has achieved success, he/she cannot continue to seek the same level of support and help from NEP, and would have to compete with all Malaysians in his/her socio-economic tier; e.g. the Malay businessman would have to compete with his non-Malay competitor on equal footing. But in such an arrangement, it is possible for evil practices from the pre-NEP era to show its ugly head once again - e.g. the private sector could once again be biased towards Chinese in such matters as employment, promotion, housing or business deals and contracts. In order to avert such racist practices, new laws should be formulated, with very severe punishment for offenders.

NEP can still be relevant and benefit all Malaysians, provided it is changed from its current "Not Equal Policy" to "Necessary Equal Policy".