COMMENT | If Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants to move Malaysia out of the abyss, he needs to take drastic action such as removing affirmative action policies.

The Malays have grown too lemak (complacent) from overconfidence. They “won” contracts, scholarships and jobs, not because they were good and competent. They acquired all these from Malay patronage. Accepting bribes has also corrupted their morals, in more ways than one.

Ismail Sabri could allow a five-year period for the Malays to prepare for the time when their crutches will be removed. The Malays need competition to bring out the best in them. Why should we lose more talent overseas, never to return? Why should the best non-Malay be overlooked? Why should we promote mediocre Malays, only for them to promote more unsatisfactory and unqualified Malays?

Leaders who fail to...