Now and again, we get to hear comments by our leaders on the need to reform the special privileges given to the bumiputra. Yet, there is no political will to make any significant changes.

Soon after Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malay Malaysians should give up crutches of special rights, Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak reminded us that Umno is committed to protecting Malay rights.

The recent debate on meritocracy looks like another academic exercise, heading nowhere in terms of improving the competitiveness of Malay Malaysians against the others. I wonder how they are going to cope with the onslaught of globalisation! The message Najib is sending to Malay Malaysians is, "don't worry too much about competition, we will always look after you".

Then, we have the Umno Youth leader warning MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik that Umno-MCA relationship will be affected by his statement that the private colleges need not provide quota for bumiputra. In this, I agree with Ling: As we all know, anyone who can afford the higher fees and meet the necessary entry requirements will be accepted by private colleges.

Why is there a need for a quota, other than the purpose of using an arm-twisting tactic to squeeze scholarships from them? As Umno Youth exco member Abdul Rauf Yusoh said, "It would be difficult for the movement to handle a fund that would require a lot of management."

Then, on the topic of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's suggestion that the matriculation colleges admit 10 percent non-bumiputra, Umno Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein was quick to soften it by saying that Malay Malaysians will not be affected as they will increase the total by 10 percent more to accommodate the non-bumiputra! If this is not mollycoddling, what is?

I wish the leaders of today are confident enough to deal with problems at hand without worrying about their popularity and positions in their party.