In the first 20 years of my life, I have lived growing up with the Malays. Then for the next 30 years or so, I worked with the Malays. And then for the later 10 years, I have dealt with the Malays personally. So basically, my whole life has been with the Malays. I have not been isolated, discriminated or even marginalised. I have enjoyed good relationship with them all through my life.

And I can safely say that the Malays are not racist. With the recent controversy of the PKNS acting general manger’s appointment, the DAP and the PKR are now demanding that all employment be based on merit. This is very fair and I totally agree that all employment and job appointments should be based on meritocracy. But only if this is the reality.

The private sector is mostly monopolised by the Chinese. Employing mostly Chinese and having Chinese as their top management. The same goes for the Indians, who end up employing Indians as their majority of the staff and top management. Good examples would be the Sunway Group and the Hong Leong Group.

Because of this, the Malays are now forced to protect their existence and rights. It may look racist on the Malays' part, but what choice do the Malays have in light of these discriminations. Therefore, they have to give foremost preference to Malays in the government-linked companies and also in the government departments.

If these government-linked companies and the government departments do not give preference to the Malays, where would the Malays go for employment? If thousands of Malays are unemployed, this would certainly lead to a dire economic situation for the country.

The Malays are protesting against the appointment of a Chinese as the acting GM of PKNS and I think its only fair that they do so. Else this could be the start of the Malays being left out of the GLCs and possibly the government departments. Would the Malays then be employed or appointed in the private sector. I think not.

I would like to quote Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when I asked him a question during a closed-door forum, on why are the government-linked companies only employed Malays, and the Chinese are only employing Chinese and where would the Indians go?

So he answered frankly that if the government did not employ the Malays, the Malays would not have any jobs because no one will even consider employing them. How true this is.

There are only three local companies, as far as I am concerned, that employ based on merit as well as make non-race-based appointments into their top management. They are AirAsia, Astro and Maxis. One is run by an Indian and the other two are owned by an Indian.

Meritocracy would only work if all Chinese companies in Malaysia open their doors to everyone from all levels and from all races for employment and then and then only, can we demand that government and the government-linked companies employ based on merit regardless of race.

If the government were to go by meritocracy while the private companies are still adhering to the race- based employment, then the Malays would be jobless except for the few fortunate businessmen. The non-Malays cannot claim the whole portion of the pie for themselves.

If one is awaiting for an Obama to rise up, there should be equality and fairness to all. Until and unless all Malaysians change their mindset, I do not expect that Malays would change theirs alone

I strongly urge that all races to break their present mindset and rise above this ridiculous attitude and work together as one. And I hope I am still around to see this happen. You cannot have meritocracy in he public sector and none in the private sector. Let’s be fair.