The New Economic Policy supplemented the 15-year special privilege provision enshrined in the Federal Constitution of Malaya. Having used up 13 years of the 15-year privilege provision, Umno asked for another 20 years to implement NEP.

The understanding then was at the end of 20 years in 1990, there would neither be the NEP nor the special privileges provision. Malaysians would all be equal. That was a promise given by Umno leaders, and the component parties naturally thought that succeeding generations of Umno leaders would keep to the promise of the founding fathers.

There was never ever any opposition by the component parties to what the government did and implemented for the NEP between 1970 and 1990. The Umno leaders in government should have kept to the promise to drop the NEP and special privilege provision in 1990.

The powers-that-be conveniently then said that the objectives of the NEP were not met, and renamed NEP the National Development Policy to continue implementing the original NEP, perhaps more ferociously.

That generation of leaders who framed the NEP had been more upright in setting a time limit of 20 years to implement a policy which they knew was biased against, and unfair, to the non-Malays.

The spirit of comradeship forged by the Alliance government was, unfortunately, not appreciated by the younger generation of Umno leaders who felt that since Umno was the government, it could do what it pleased without a sense of justice and civility.

The question now is can Umno be trusted to keep its promises? Why keep comparing the income level between the races when the most fundamental issue is to offer help where necessary so that all the citizens can live happily?

The NEP has been a convenient tool for producing Umno-only champions. That is the route to power and riches. Unfortunately, it is not the path to become a global or towering Malay.