I agree with Anak Desa that we need to address the needs of the minority Indian community, in particular its poverty.

For some years I was closely involved in helping the poorest of the poor in Malaysia - who lived in squatter shantytowns. I got to know many of them very well though some of them are now dead.

It is common knowledge that the life span of many of their samsu-drinking males is below the Malaysian average. Many of the most desperate men live in a cycle of uncertain casual labour, low wages, exploitation, social discrimination and drunkenness. They live very austere lives. Their children often drop out of school after the compulsory years of education and end up doing low-paying jobs or become unemployed. The women often bear the brunt of all that goes awry in the households and are abused.

Other ethnic poor have their own kinds of problems.

But given the right help, even drunkards can become exemplary fathers and citizens, hold on to stable jobs, and children can do well in school and mothers enjoy some simple pleasures of life. It is sad that few take the trouble to help them. The implementation of a poverty plan for all Malaysians must remain one of the government's priorities and education must be a cornerstone.

Basically the poor Indians have survived and progressed, at least from my observation of the groups I was involved with, because of Malaysia's booming economy and relatively rich society. I have always admired the Tamils as a resilient ancient people like the Chinese also because their ancestors played a strategic and admirable role in building the country's rubber industry, railway systems and roads.

It is wrong to further marginalise by neglect a community that has been peaceful and contributed to the nation's growth. If we want to create a Bangsa Malaysia, here is the opportunity - to help those in need regardless of their race.

It is sad therefore when I read that many young Tamils end up in gangs and commit crimes.

It is strange that in Malaysia affirmative action gives preference and priority to the needs of the majority race. Elsewhere affirmative action usually means help for the poor and underprivileged minority ethnic groups. Certainly if any single ethnic group is in desperate need of affirmative action, it is the Tamil squatter communities. After all the intention of affirmative action is to prevent members of a minority group from being left behind in its social and economic development so that they may not resort to anti-social activities.

Incidentally, we should also not neglect the plight of the Orang Asli.

Education is a key to economic success. It is through education that the poor can improve themselves, and many Malaysians have leap-frogged into the upper class of society in one short generation. It is possible in a place like Malaysia because despite the absence of government aid, the determined and talented will still find a way to succeed without any help from anyone except perhaps their immediate family members. Often we find education is the stepping stone.

I certainly hope the government will do more for the poor, and take a closer look at how it spends its budget on eradicating poverty not only for the Malays but the other races as well, and ensure education is given top priority.

While the NEP idea is noble, because helping the underprivileged is always a noble thing, it is time for a review to see if other races should now be given serious consideration and financial help also. After so many years of affirmative action since the writing of the famous book, Dr Mahathir's 'Malay Dilemma'

may well speak for the non-Malay dilemma. We have spent enough time helping the Malays per se who must now begin to shoulder their share of helping the poor.

There must come a time when the re-distribution of a country's wealth must be based on the principle of 'where-needed-most' or 'who needs it more' rather than the mere criterion of race. If the most needy belong to the same race then so be it. At least no one can gripe that they are victims of an unjust government policy or racial discrimination. Many Malay rural poor still need help so policies have to be more directed toward helping them. Creating more places in vocational schools and universities for the poor is a necessity.

Now that Malaysia has been declared an Islamic state, should there not be more evidences of policies and practices that support the popularly touted claim that Islam promotes equality and justice? Actions speak louder than words, and it is a great injustice to deny the poor Indians their rightful help. After all, let us not forget government funding comes from taxes and every citizen has a right to government aid. If we want to use religion in politics let us see it used positively to help everyone in practical ways and not exploited for political gain.

It is time Malay companies and now wealthy individuals who have benefitted from the government's affirmative actions show their social responsibility and gratitude by helping carry some of the country's social costs. If the government has more funds, it will be able to channel them to the poor. It must become a government for all races not only in name but in deed.

For example, the special discounts given to bumiputeras when they buy houses should be replaced with a first-home buyers scheme. Alternatively, the money saved could be used to train unemployed youths for the building industry. Many Malays now own several houses and continue to enjoy the discounts though they don't need or deserve them. Many non-Malays are still struggling to buy their first homes. Perhaps some of the money saved could be channelled to housing for the squatters.

A first-home buyers scheme for all Malaysians would stimulate the building industry more than the special discounts scheme which often is not taken up.

The above is an example of a policy that has outlived its useful life. I am sure there are other instances where policies need urgent review to make the country more equitable and that taxpayers' funds can be better used to help the poor. I doubt many Malaysians will grumble that the poor are helped. And I know the government is capable of doing this if it wants to. Help for the Tamil squatters is overdue.

When rubber estates are developed for housing, the government should look at finding alternative work for the displaced workers who have no other employable skills. It should seriously consider re-training its obsolete workforce. Then there is the question of re-housing the displaced. Some of my Tamil friends have died and their widows are still waiting for the cheap low-cost flats that were offered to them almost 15 years ago! Surely someone must take an interest in their welfare or is it more expedient to let the voiceless rot or hope they will die out?

The government should concentrate on making more people better off than a select few super-rich. It will be a betrayal of the Malay community if the government's privatisation projects benefit only the elite or what critics call their 'cronies' and not a more widespread Malay populace.

Making the Malay community more egalitarian, producing more Malay middle-class, is better than concentrating the country's re-distributed wealth in the hands of a few Malay tycoons. Tycoons will always find a natural way to emerge, and the self-made variety will be of a better quality than the hand-fed and artificially nurtured type. The adage of not putting all the eggs in one basket makes sense.

On the other hand, it is easy to point the finger at government and expect it to do everything. The Malays who have received help from the government should seriously think of repaying their 'debts' to the country. Many of our Malay friends, in one short generation, have become enormously wealthy with government help. It is time they think also of helping the poorer Malays in the rural areas and other non-Malays. Only then will some semblance of social justice take place and the NEP bear much greater fruit that benefits the entire nation. Otherwise we should change the NEP to mean something else like the Malay Enrichment Policy.

It is reasonable for race-based political parties to look after the interests of the ethnic groups they represent but they should not be unreasonable or greedy.

If I were prime minister I would get the best man and woman for the most important jobs in the country and do away with patronage, obligations, face-saving and such other hindrances to efficiency. I would make meritocracy pre-eminent and adopt it as the modus operandi in all government departments. By this I show the world that the country has come of age.

It is baffling why a country that harps much about God and religion continues to neglect its most needy, especially this group of poor Tamils and to uphold the principle of justice and equal opportunity for all.

Perhaps it is time the government does something concrete about the much publicised 'Third Word mentality' or rather, 'third-rate mentality' that plagues the country. Words and slogans do not feed the hungry, house the homeless, and create jobs for the unemployed.

We should restore the dignity of the word national to mean all Malaysians and not just a favoured group. Otherwise all talk of national interests or national this or national that is a farce. A house divided cannot be a stable house. But a nation fortified by sound foundational principles of truth, justice and equality, will never be destroyed or fail its people.