I do agree in a way with Jeffrey that Salbiah Ahmad's [#1] Achieving equality [/#] (Feb 11) is made more ambiguous in what it did not say ([#2] Affirmative Action: What it is and what it's not[/#] , Feb 12).

I think, however, that the writer may have conveniently used the gap to go on and on about [#3]Suqiu[/#] and ketuanan Melayu which has been spread over malaysiakini for so many months now. I am beginning to read the newspapers again, if only for diversity! Sometimes we need to reflect on the missing lines. Not everything is "in your face".

Having said that, I think it is detrimental to limit the concept of affirmative action (which women and the differently-abled groups are using to advance their marginalised position here), to ethnic hegemony through ketuanan Melayu . I hope we understand that there is only a section of Malays, even in Umno, who are grasping at this feudal idea. So please do not throw the baby out with the bath water or mencurah air di dapur apabila mendengar guruh di langit .

The problem is, we have no real objective research and studies made of the impact of the New Economic Policy. If there were, then we did not have the freedom of information, especially with a muzzled press and elites refusing to share power.

I would say that cronyism and the patronage system had abused the quota system (which is a form of affirmative action). We should work towards a more balanced method of working out the inequities among Malaysians, not necessarily regardless of race (race here does not mean Malays only).

What Umno has failed to do, is to allow openness in discussing the NEP and problems of affirmative action.

This certainly due to its fear of losing power. It has duped the Malays into holding on to ketuanan Melayu , etc. and has used the abuses of affirmative action to further the interests of selected Malays.

I hope when we choose to write about these issues, that we try not to get co-opted into the Malay-Chinese divide. Have free speech by all means, but think about constructing and building upon the Malay-Chinese divide. I am afraid that we are shutting out other marginalised groups if we go on as we are.