I refer to the malaysiakini report, Malay contractors required to sign Akujanji . The problem of big Malay contractors outsourcing their government work (especially to Chinese contractors) for short-term gain is an old issue which has bested our government for a long time.

It is an open secret that a majority of Umno members are made up of contractors who, through political patronage, obtain juicy government contracts which can make them millionaires. Their political masters and these contractors will receive big commissions from the down liners who eventually will have to cut corners in implementing these contracts.

This results in half-baked projects which are not completed or need additional government funds (read taxpayers hard-earned money) to complete them.

The school lab fiasco, the MMRII's cracking and repair cost and the Matrade building cost overrun are some of the examples of government folly in giving work to Malay contractors who cannot do their work professionally and within budget.

The Ali Baba type of business is actually a win-win situation for Malay contractors who get government jobs. But removing these incompetent Malay contractors will not be easy as most of them are intertwined with Umno politicians who will kick up a fuss if their gravy train is taken away from them.

The 1997 financial meltdown caused a lot of Malay and non-bumiputera businessmen who depended on government contracts to go bust and with the new changing economic system in this world, the weak and the incompetent will have to eventually make way for the efficient and lean - those who know how to do their work professionally without government help.

It is about time Malay contractors compete with the non-bumiputera contractors based on merit with the successful ones being chosen for their ability to get the work done on time. Most important is that no palms were 'greased' in order to get big government projects.

It will be naive to think that with the 'Akujanji' agreement, the malaise of the Ali Baba business will go away. As long as Malay contractors do not want to stand on their own two feet in a competitive environment, the government's noble intention of creating a new breed of successful Malay businessmen will be a pipe dream.

After nearly 30 years of the NEP, what has happened to the likes of Tajuddin Ramli, Halim Saad, and Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah who were the toast of the town in the 90s due to their business acumen and billionaire status? Where have they all gone and what lessons have the government and aspiring Malay contractors learnt from their mistakes?