So, has it been a fair deal for the Chinese, Dr M?

I read this amazing piece of statement by Dr M published in Page 10 of The SUN today.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad does not mince his words when he says that if Malaysia depended only on taxes paid by the Malays, it would not have achieved what it has today, the Chinese press reported yesterday.

He said Malays have to acknowledge that the Malay community contributed the least to making Malaysia a model country and to its current status in the world.

Addressing a forum on the Future Challenges of the Malays organised by the Kedah Malay Assembly Hall in Alor Star on Saturday, Mahathir said there is no doubt the country has progressed and prospered under the leadership of the Malays but that such progress was built on the hard work of other races.

"The government used taxes from the people to develop the country, but who contributed the most in taxes?"

"The Chinese! Their success in business has made them the biggest contributors in taxes."

He said Malays are behind the others not because they are inferior or lack resources but because of their culture and attitude.

Is anyone aware whether this piece of news was reported elsewhere in any of the other mainstream papers in this country, especially the so-called govt mouthpieces?

The fact that Dr M bravely acknowledged in public the huge contribution made by the Chinese community in prospering this country as well as financing the NEP that has helped the Bumiputras achieve so much in so short a time speaks a lot about this man who wrote the controversial book, The Malay Dilemma.

For too long, the non-Bumiputras have been made to feel like they have been taken for a ride because it is the price that has to be paid for the privilege of setting up home here.

And the older generation who witnessed the transition of this country from colonial rule to independence probably felt that it was a small and worthwhile price to pay. But surely they too did not bargain for eternal sacrifice to be exacted on their offspring and the future generations to come?

But this is exactly how most are feeling now. That there seems to be no end to it - the freeloaders obviously are not about to give up their cushy position.

There are many ways to continue robbing from Peter to pay Paul, some subtle and some truly offensive.

The question is, who is in a Dilemma now? Did the affirmative actions and policies unwittingly created a bigger beast that had gone berserk and out of control? Or did it create a lame duck, a sitting target waiting to be finished off by the unstoppable global forces?

The saddest part is, most people (in particular politicians) still do not realise that they have a lit fuse right under their nose. It is just a matter of time before they self-destruct because of continued ignorance and arrogance.