In the past week, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been blasting away at the Malays, again on their alleged laziness and complaining that his biggest failure is being unable to change their attitude.

I agreed with his self-confessed failure, but does he know that what caused his failure?

The biggest culprit is the policy that was implemented supposedly to help the Malays or poor Malaysians.

The New Economic Policy (NEP) was supposed to run for 30 years. But at the end of the 30 years, it was extended and became the Never-Ending Policy, taking the form of the National Development Policy (NDP) and National Vision Policy. It was extended because those already benefitted wanted more.

How can the ordinary Malays heed his plea to work hard and be successful in business when the government is ever-ready to step in to bail out the failed business ventures of big-time cronies? His recent statement that big businesses failed not because of inefficient management but because of the economic situation is another big laugh. Thanks to that, Renong chief Halim Saad can now sleep peacefully at night despite the debt-ridden situation of his company.

The NEP, as long as it is enforced, is a guaranteed source of wealth to the uninitiated.

The NEP deemed it constitutionally right for the rich Malays to buy properties that are worth more than RM500,000 at 15 percent discount and resell it to the non-privileged at a profit while the real poor Malays are made to wait years for their RM25,000 low-cost house.

Dr M is angry that the bumiputras students are weak in their studies. But why do they need to study so hard when their places in local universities are virtually guaranteed? Dr M must understand that a person of his capabilities is only one in a million. If he insists on treating students like infants, they will never grow up to face the world on their own.

Dr M thinks all Chinese are hardworking and productive. This is what he sees in the community here and outside mainland China, mainly because when he makes his official visits, he is only shown the prosperous parts. There are also many lazy and unproductive Chinese in China while the majority of the overseas Chinese are successful because they have nothing to fall back on if they fail on foreign land.

The well-to-do Malaysians of Chinese ethnicity became successful after decades and generations of hard work and perseverance. When our forebears first landed on this land, their first instinct was to survive on their on feet. The harsh environment gave them no choice but to work hard.

Those successful Malays who made it on their own surely know the value of their experience in building their businesses the long and steady way. Nothing comes easy except with the help of NEP.

When things are obtained easily, it is human nature to take them for granted. If people are forced to earn the hard way and they will treasure their gains.

One of Mahathir's weakness is that he never admits his own mistakes. Every failure or shortcoming of his policy is the fault of others but never his. Dr M has done many great things for the nation but being too long in the office has made him run out of ideas.

In trying to match his success during his earlier years as PM, his current tendency is to go overboard to implement policies that seem to do more harm than good. His recent step to take in an adviser on Chinese affairs is a good move but only if he is prepared to listen to constructive criticism.

Mahathir blasted Suqiu's request to take steps to abolish the quota system and likened them to communists even though the same request was part of a 17-point appeal that was accepted in principle by the Cabinet just before the last general elections.

Like it or not, his shocking retaliation caused the downfall of Barisan Nasional in the Lunas by-election. His denial that MCA taking over Nanyang Press is a political move is an insult to the public's intelligence.

His outburst against Nanyang Siang Pau and the China Press in his speech delivered during the closing of the recent Umno AGM revealed his antipathy towards these two papers and he blames them for BN's failure in Lunas.

The malaysiankini website offers a good feedback of what the public feels and thinks about the government and its policies. No matter how much the premier may deny it, the mainstream media are only allowed to publish news, reports and opinions that are favourable to his ears.

Mahathir should allow the public who may have differing opinions from his an avenue to voice theirs. Otherwise the discontent will grow in the dark to a huge bomb and explode one day. And please remember that the very act of daring to voice our opinions is because we still care for the nation.