As long as there is a perception that they are not going to be treated fairly in the public service, the non-Malays will not show keenness to even apply for government jobs. Even professionals in the public sector do not feel that they are fairly treated and either resign or retire early to go private. It is not a secret that many of the few non-Malays in the public sector are given 'promotions' just when they are about to retire maybe to show that they are indeed given promotions.

While in the early days after Merdeka, such a biased treatment was greeted by protests, the very many legislation and practices on the guise of 'restructuring society' under the NEP have created 'conditioned' minds both among the Malays - that the public sector is theirs - and among the non-Malays that their future might be better served in the private sector. Not many people talk about it, but the mind is conditioned to accept this.

Just look at our public universities. The number of non-Malay professors in the various fields will also show the same pattern. Very few senior positions are held by them.

This trend has created situations where nearly 100 percent of the public sector interview board members are Malays who choose the applicants for jobs, promotions, study awards etc, and non- Malay candidates don't stand a chance, unless a quota has been set. While in the private sector performance is seen as a vital factor, it isn't the same in the public sector. It is not a secret that in many government departments, appraisals are done in such a manner that all - performers and non-performers alike - can taste the goodies in turns.

Who can change this scenario? The negative effects are very glaring. The public sector uses Bahasa Malaysia while the private sector favours English. If more non-Malays perform better in English, is it surprising? This trend will continue unabated if the national leadership does not wish to bring about the change to 'restructure' the public sector.

It is no use just saying, 'Not many non-Malays are applying for the government jobs.' Erstwhile government policies have created this situation. The choices are there. Go on as at present and wipe out the non-Malays from the civil service or come up with a workable strategy to convince the non-Malay candidates that they have do a future in the Malaysian civil service.