Every citizen who loves his or her country wants to contribute towards its growth and success. For with growth and success, everyone gains. But when those with such aspirations for the country are handicapped by short-sighted politicians - whose apparent main aim is only to maintain their power and position - and their archaic policies, the end result is to see a country with high potential going to the dogs.

Malaysia is no exception. The greater good of the country should be paramount to the advantages of the privileged who are becoming a drain on the country's resources, directly and indirectly. To paraphrase John F Kennedy, we as Malaysians (and I emphasise - Malaysians ) should ask not what the country can give us, but, rather ask what we, as citizens of the country, can do to make our country great.

Our country needs more Aizuddin Danians ('Remove 'don't work hard' incentive to Malays', May 9) with their forward thinking, and fewer of those who fear failure because of their own incapabilities and incapacities. Many right-thinking privileged citizens do feel pride in being able to excel in the same arena as the best in the country. And they are to be applauded by, and serve as an inspiration to, the majority of the low achievers whose main fear is to be thrown to the lions without the cage of the privileged.

It is also wrong to equate the opportunities afforded now and in colonial times as being fought for with the same rules. It is misleading to say that the British favoured one race over the other. We were more multiracial and less polarised then than now. And we can attribute this present state of affairs more to the politicians than the common citizens.

Our politicians are politicians to the core. They are not statesmen. Their aim as stated earlier is to protect their own position and power base. What else would they want when they continue to want to run the country even when they are no longer relevant in the new world order?

Imagine the scenario of the day when they have to give way. Do we have an echelon of politicians whom we can rely on to lead the country to glory? The practice of suppression and selective partnership for personal reasons cannot sustain the country to glory. It has to be a choice of politicians who actually want to see the country grow. And we cannot see this happening with the continued exploitation of the quota system - in any field.