Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reported to have said that places in university will no longer be determined by race ('University quotas for races may be abolished: Dr M', May 6). This means that the bumiputra quota system will be abolished.

My question is: Are Malays being punished for supporting Anwar Ibrahim? Or is Mahathir threatening the Malays that unless they back Umno in its present form, they will lose their special benefits?

I think Malays should continue to enjoy their quota in public institutions of higher learning. This is a legacy of Tun Abdul Razak Hussein which should be preserved. Before Tun Abdul Razak's time the ratio of professional bumiputras was extremely pathetic. There were only two Malays in every 100 accountants, three in every 100 lawyers and six in every 100 engineers.

I fear that if the bumiputra university quota is abolished, Malays will once again be only office boys, company drivers and factory workers.