"Economic apartheid" is what US civil rights advocate Jesse Jackson calls the prejudice of white-dominated businesses against minority groups in his country. It's a term that can be applied easily in Malaysia, too.

Now, this economic form of apartheid is not tangible but it can be felt nonetheless. Not many companies I know have a policy of exclusion written down in black and white, so it's not official.

Let me first acknowledge that discrimination in any form - official or not - is heinous. But let me then submit that unofficial discrimination, in the form of prejudice of one race towards another, is no doubt the more deplorable of the two.

On the surface, officially-sanctioned discrimination would appear to be the worst: It is tantamount to state-approved oppression. But at least official forms of discrimination - national policies, etc. - can be changed by putting the right people in charge.

All it takes is an amendment in Parliament or the courts, and things will be straightened out. If the will is there, the people can effect this change by electing those who will undertake such an action. That's what happened in South Africa, at any rate.

But changing people's racial prejudices is an entirely different matter. Since it is not in black and white, changing the perceptions and business attitudes of an entire race developed over decades is going to take a lot more work.

My contention is this: Let's say we do away with the special provisions for bumiputras in the field of business. So they become exposed to the competitive environment, just as they should be. What is then to stop them from being decimated by the 'ruling' Chinese businesses who have already established a fortress around their community interests?

I hear from my friends who engage in business that there are different rates depending on the colour of your skin. Now, I don't know for sure if this is true or not, but if it is, then how are the community leaders going to change this oppressive discrimination? Or maybe the question should be, are they going to?

Maybe in the Klang Valley many people have elevated their thinking towards fighting for common interests. This is good. But it's 'many', I say, not 'all'. Therein lies my concern.

Personally, I'm quite comfortable with this whole 'competing on your merit' thingy. It's just that when I balik kampung (go home) to Bentong or Raub (Pahang), the picture is disturbing. You must forgive me for saying that when I see my own people being fleeced like lambs, I have to say something even at the expense of pouring cold water on the euphoria of equality that's going on right now.

This is a legacy of British colonial rule which the New Economic Policy (NEP) was supposed to combat; an economic imbalance of economic power as a result of the 'divide and conquer' strategy that must be redressed before we can move on to a merit-based Malaysia.

It makes me fear what would happen if the 'shield' is raised overnight. This is why I am opposed to lifting the bumiputra rights suddenly. I favour instead a return to the original spirit of the NEP, where development of the Malays is not at the expense of other races.

It has to be a gradual process, and an honest process. It must be engaged by all sides with sincerity.

In other words, in asking for one man to give up his rights, you must be prepared to give up yours. Well, are you?