You over-estimate the grip over the Malaysian economy by the ethnic Chinese. Sure, they supposedly control the economy.
For now. Even though there was a recent study by a Malaysian think-tank which discussed that the original target of achieving at least 30% control of the national economy for the bumiputeras had been achieved. Of course, the head had to then resigned after admitting that perhaps there were errors in the research.
Even so, the government's taking steps to reduce the hold by lower- and middle class Chinese have on the local economy.
As for becoming Datuks, there's a local joke about throwing a stone at a random person and he'll almost certainly be a
Datuk
Backchat? Those tycoons are practically the lapdogs of the UMNO-puteras, getting their contracts through bribes and promised kick-backs. While the economy prospers, they're like the best of friends although there's always the hold they have on each other. Control? more like a pact with the devil.
People like them and their political masters can always get out of the country when the house of cards finally falls. It's the middle-class and the lower income non-Malays who'll be condemned to suffer along with the Malays who voted in their "saviours" to begin with.
Speaking of which, there are some good pictures of the HINDRAF protest and the police reprisal if you head to
Screenshots