I refer to the letter Indians should stop their whining which was in response to my letter Easy for armchair critics to bash Hindraf .

My humble request to the writer – can you please forward the same questions of yours to all your fellow bumiputeras? Why do they expect the NEP to be extended beyond its initial life-span? All these questions, arguments and uneasy feelings among the non-bumiputeras would not have arose if bumiputeras were able to help themselves without expecting any handouts.

For heaven’s sake, we, the non-bumiputrras are not expecting handouts or special privileges. We certainly do not want to be mediocre. Special privileges just create that. Just look at the unemployment rate and the group with the highest statistics for this All we ask for is equal rights, based on merit. This will not just be a help to us, but also will push bumiputeras to be able to compete with the rest and produce world-class scholars, entrepreneurs, scientists, and civil servants.

Universiti Malaya and the National University of Singapore came from the same parents. The same with Malaysian Airlines System and Singapore Airlines. Just se where our Singaporean counterparts are and where we are. Why the decline? Singapore recruits and promotes its staff based on merit, unlike us. Until and unless we accept these facts, we are at the losing end.

The world will not wait for us. Our Rubber Research Institute used to be one of the best in the world, but today many countries have overtaken us, namely India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. We are just counting our days for countries like Vietnam and Indonesia to catch up and race ahead of us in many fields.

Using your same argument, if the rich among the Malays could help their own community, the NEP would have seen the exit door long ago.

If you seriously think there is no systematic discrimination in this country, I am afraid you do not have your feet on the ground. Are you not aware of all the help mediocre Malay students get? I refer to the letter Local uni education mediocre . An arts stream student being offered a place do engineering course! What more proof do you need?

We are certainly do not believe all this happens in isolation. When I was in the university, my fellow course mates who came from matriculation programme were often too embarrassed to reveal their grades. Did they do well? Certainly not. Many had to repeat courses, and even those who managed to scrape through dis not land in good positions. Of course, they had nothing to worry about as the public sector welcomes them with open arm.

If Malays could help themselves, why do we need two different entry exams to local universities? Many may argue that other countries too have different entry exams, but theirs is certainly not based on race.

Whatever is said and done, I am proud to be a non-bumiputera, because what I have gained so far is based on my hard work and not on handouts. For this, I will certainly stand taller than the ‘privileged’ ones. And facts are facts, no matter what pseudonym I use.