[sgh]

They need to pay lots of under-the-table cost before the projects can proceed for the various stages of construction.

For a basically non-bummi company, how to survive in such an environment?

How private companies survive is at their top position must put some M race ppl sit. Then every month give them monies. Whether they do work is besides the point. Their job is to help the company settle govt rulings etc issues. This is so common you can go to their listed companies financial and see the faces of the top ppl inside the company. In fact Msian ppl also used to it liao. In the lowyat forum (aka Msian forum) you can sense or feel their sentiments is like like that one lor what to do? Resign to fate liao lar.