Ketuanan Melayu

The question that was recently raised by our former PM's daughter Marina Mahathir was whether the mass protests which are now taking place in Tunisia, Sanna and Cairo might one day take place in Malaysia given the situation prevailing in Malaysia.

As a loyal citizen of Malaysia having witnessed and survived the past 53 years since independence, I am surprised that the present leadership is trying its evil best to wrest control of the country through its various racialistic policies.

I never dream and have never dreamt that a day like now would ever take place in my country and my fellow citizens.

I am most certain that when our Papa Merdeka raised his voice and shouted, "Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka", when the clock struck 12 midnight on 31 August 1957, none of our leaders ever thought that a half a century later, the Malays would want to usurp the absolute control from the other races.

Since May 13, 1969, the social economic policies are becoming more and more racialistic and discrimatory which benefit in the main the Malays. The Chinese and the Indians have been sidelined ever since.

Most if not all the industrial sectors are already in the hands of the Malays. They are not satisfied and have also failed to realise that the NEP must cease to apply after 40 years. The primary objectives of the NEP were to eradicate poverty and to correct the enomomic imbalances among the races. Despite the fact that so much have been done for the Malays, the UMNO controlled BN failed to achieve the objectives of the NEP. How could they now blame the Non-Malays for their failure?

Now some extreme leaders are raising the questions of Malay supremacy and that Non-Malays must recognise the Malays as the natives of the country. Through the discrimatory social economic policies, the non-Malays have been deprived practically in all fields of the economy.

The worst things that ever happen before our eyes is gerrymandering - election rigging and unlawful usurpation of state's government through sheer barbaric and underhand tactics like what happened in Perak and Selangor. The purpose is due to the UMNO greed for power which has been stymied during the 12th General Election.

There is a Chinese adage which says that "If one is forced to the wall, the tiger will jump over the wall". This adage is being fulfilled in MENA. If the social economic situation persists in Malaysia whereby the educated adults are jobless, the prices of food are escalating, business opportunities are limited and the resources are being squandered to the detriment of the people, I am not surprised that one day what Marina proposed might happen in Malaysia.

What happen and are happening in MENA are not pleasant and should never take place in Malaysia which is so endowed with rich resources which are enough for everyone.

It is only hoped that our UMNO leaders learn a lesson from the situation in MENA and desist from squandering the country resources for their own aggrandisement.