Ted Ng's letter entitled Give bonus points for bumis seems to give the impression that bumi students are less smarter than non-bumi students. This is utter nonsense for there are smart people, less smart people and not-so-smart people but this has got nothing to do with ethnicity or religion.

Some believe, for example, that the bumiputera doctor is not as good as the non-bumiputera doctor - but this is not the case all the time for there are many bumiputera graduates and even professionals who are far better than their non-bumiputera counterparts.

The so-called 'quota system' is one of the things that has brought about this perception. Hence, it must be understood that discriminatory practices affect not just those discriminated, but also those that benefit.

Putting aside education, what about houses? I do not see any reason why the practice that a bumiputera gets to buy a house at a reduced price just because he is a bumiputera. It would be more logical and just if public servants are given this reduction.

It would be more logical and just if the lower-income persons are given this reduction. It would be more logical and just if people with large families (or many dependants) are given this reduction. Positive discrimination just based on ethnicity must be reviewed.

The often used threat that the ISA would be used if we discuss existing practice and policies of positive discrimination is appalling. Something as important as this needs to be discussed by all Malaysians, as it affects us all.

Caution must be exercised not to incite racial/ethnic tensions but at the same time the issue it is also something that can remain under the carpet never to be discussed because 'it may affect the internal security of the nation'.

We are no more a young, immature nation, and our elected/appointed leaders must have faith that we will discuss matters rationally. How old must the nation be before the leaders allow us freedom of expression and opinion?

It is now more than 45 years after Malaysia's independence, and there is definitely a need to review positive discriminatory policies and practices in our country. This is the one thing that keeps us divided as a people. Maybe the first step is for our now dominant race/ethnic-based political parties to do a serious re-thinking of their objectives, struggles and yes, even their names.