With Universiti Malaya's report concurring with Asli's (Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute) that the New Economic Policy (NEP) target of 30% bumi equity has been exceeded in the case of the UM's report, the target was reached way back in 1997 the government has been under pressure to come clean on the issue.

After forcing Asli to withdraw its report, the government had since admitted that the target has been exceeded. But while it initially first said that Malay ownership of the country's wealth - in the form of public-listed companies in Bursa Malaysia - stood at 36.64%, this was however retracted yesterday. The official figure now is 21.8%.

Malay wealth remains largely concentrated in the hands of a few. The majority is not much better off after 36 years of the NEP.