I wish to comment on the letter, BN's tradition of quotas protects non-Malays , by Dato' Lee Hwa Beng.

Dato Lee's view is typical of those with vested interests and therefore unwilling to sacrifice for change. His reason that non-Malays should be nominated to be councillors and as candidates to stand for state and parliamentary elections reflects his insecurity and inability to stand on his own capability. Within a single multiracial BN party, if we can ever get to that stage, meritocracy will ensure only the fittest survive and be elected as MPs and ADUNs, and hopefully elected councillors.

While Umno is worried over losing Malay special privileges, we have MCA leaders worrying that without present quotas, they will lose out! Get out if you cannot stand the heat. Just as some Malays cannot stand being lumped with Umno, there are many Chinese who cannot stand MCA claiming to be our champions. Let the people decide who should be the leaders, irrespective of race, instead of the present behind-the-scene bargaining.

The present system sucks because warlords, who got rich from it, are able to maintain their control and what we get are ineffective leaders who cannot discipline their main supporters. The other coalition party leaders have proven time and again to be yes-men who cannot voice out their true feelings. What good is it to say that we shouted for our rights behind closed doors?

The mood of the people now seems to suggest the need for change or political re-alignment because of inequality, injustice, lack of transparency and accountability, unfairness, blatant corruption and so on.

I can see a number of scenarios, one of which is the rejection of MCA, MIC, Gerakan, for supporting an unfair coalition led by Umno. It may take more than one election to make known, if this is the wish of the people. If isolation of Umno is eventually successful, Umno will have to re-invent itself by accepting other races and change to United Malaysian National Organisation instead to gain acceptance.

In the process, another Malay-led party like PKR or PAS, which can offer a multi-racial platform, might even defeat Umno for lack of initiative for change, if there are enough Malay support for universal values.

I wish to clarify that the anti-Umno sentiments among the people is not because of anti-Malay feelings but its arrogant 'take it or leave it' policies in spite of expressions of disapproval from the masses. The use of NEP for Umno's own benefit is the key objection from the Malays themselves. The lack of meritocracy, which lulls them to feel good without actually improving their competitiveness, is a cause for concern to those well-educated Malays.

Instead of a system of special privileges which depends on unclear definitions of eligibility, we should go for a fairer basis of meritocracy with help for the truly disadvantaged because of poverty and poor living conditions, irrespective of race.

I am amazed how, on the one hand, there is over-protectiveness of rules for special privileges, and on the other, our prime ministers could have been of mixed blood . There is certainly confusion as to whether race and religion are important factors for this or other purposes.