In the past six months, there’s been a surge of local interest in the trend of brain drain in Malaysia. Out of a population of 27 million, there are an estimated 1.5 million Malaysians living abroad. Many of these Malaysians are skilled workers who emigrated to Singapore and OECD countries such as Australia, UK, and US. In response to this, the government has set up the Talent Corporation under the 10th Malaysia Plan to attract and retain highly-skilled human capital. Operating under the Prime Minister’s Department, Talent Corp will commence operations in January 2011.
While this is a promising step towards ameliorating the problem, the causes of brain drain are complex and deeply-entrenched in other aspects of Malaysian society. My personal research deals with the personal side of brain drain: in other words, what drives Malaysians’ decisions to leave the country, or to return home? I focused on Malaysians who are studying and working abroad, or have done so in the past. Over two weeks in June 2010, I surveyed 841 Malaysians on their opinions of various aspects of Malaysia; such as its political situation, its economic situation, safety, education and human rights. For statistical analysis purposes, respondents were asked to rate these abstract factors on a scale of one to ten, with one being not important at all and ten being most important. The survey also asked respondents to rate how important job prospects, religion, family ties, and a sense of moral duty to the country were to their decision whether to return or not. Finally, I asked how much the respondent believed young people coming home would make a difference to the country, and left a space for her to express her feelings about Malaysia in their own words.
A full report can be found at pluggingthebraindrain.wordpress.com. One illuminating find was that across the board, only three factors were statistically significant in whether a Malaysian decided to return: perception of whether returnees can make a difference, job prospects, and moral duty – a mix of the pragmatic and the philosophical. The more importance job prospect were to a Malaysian overseas, the lower the desire to come home. On the other hand, a higher rating on moral duty and making a difference corresponded to an increased desire to return to the home country.
In addition, I found that both experiences based on personal attributes (gender, ethnicity, family ties) as well as general perceptions of how the nation is progressing (economy, politics, education) play into one’s decision whether to return home. For example, men and Malaysians of Chinese descent were more pessimistic about Malaysia’s future. In general, younger respondents were more idealistic – a hopeful sign for the future generation, perhaps?
Personally, I found the comments section where people could express themselves freely the most interesting part of my research. For many émigrés, there is a deep sense of being wronged and not feeling welcome in Malaysia that propels them to make a living and a home elsewhere. In my opinion, it’s not too late to stem the brain drain – there are many young and young-at-heart Malaysians who still call Malaysia home. It’s going to take more than lip service or even financial incentives to draw most back, though. In an increasingly globalized world with porous international borders, Malaysia is at a turning point: to clean up her act and enter the developed world, or to continue stagnating and fall behind. The decisions of many, many Malaysians will depend on which way they believe she will go.
Evelyn Wong is a sophomore at Scripps College, California, pursuing a dual major in Politics and International Relations, and Economics. She hails from Ipoh, Malaysia.
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1 john francis lee // Dec 21, 2010 at 12:11 am
The more importance job prospect were to a Malaysian overseas, the lower the desire to come home. On the other hand, a higher rating on moral duty and making a difference corresponded to an increased desire to return to the home country.
Interesting, I suppose, but how do you know the actions and explanations are not reversed?
How do you know that the lower desire to desire to come home does not drive the importance of job prospects?
How do you know that an increased desire to return home is not described as harkening to the call of a moral duty, or the desire to make a difference?
In other words… this is all completely subjective and you have just taken the word of those you’ve questioned as to their motivations.
Surely people tell themselves stories justifying their actions all the time.
There seems to be no way to corroborate any of this.
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2 Lee // Dec 21, 2010 at 5:17 am
I was transfered to US last July. Whenever I go back to Msia, I’m constantly asked by friends if I’ve decided to stay in US. As of now, I still want to go back. Why? Because I know I can contribute to my country and this is the only way that the 1.5 mil Malaysian living abroad can stop this country from spiralling down to a parial state.
Note to Evelyn Wong : I’m staying at Rancho Cucamonga CA, about 20 mins from your college. I’ll be happy to catch up with another fellow Malaysian here. Please contact me if you decided to have another lively discussion about this topic over coffee.
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3 HRK // Dec 21, 2010 at 5:26 am
From my own experience, which is, however, not based on systematic research, I ntocied that ethnicity is a highly significant variable. Especially Malaysians with an Indian background see no real perspectives for themselves (or the country) in Malaysia. It starts already with the difficulty to get a higher education and limited career opoortunities, even for those with an excellent education. The situation for Chinese seems to be quite similar. Both groups are discriminated in a double sense. Firstly, they are non-Malay or Bumiputra (not all Bumi-. are Muslims!), and secondly, they are non-Muslims. While the pro-Malay policy might be acceptable, the Islamization policy is far less acceptable for the non-Muslim Indian and Chinese.
It would be good, to have some data on time series of out-migration and ethnicity. I guess that quite recently better educated Malay leave Malaysia, which creates other problems. Perhaps the recent response of the government results from the out-migration of these Malay.
The effects of this brain drain are obvious, because it seems that not only skilled workers etc. leave, but in particular the highly educated specialists, which were supposed to be the backbone of Malaysia’s development towards a “konowledge economy”!
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4 banson // Dec 21, 2010 at 11:25 am
I am one of the Chinese diaspora that left the country in 1969, got my degrees in the west , raised my family & stayed, returning periodically. I wish I can say the daily events I witnessed going down in the country as mildly comical & farcical, if not for the tragic fact that such a promising future for the country’s young has been flushed down the proverbial toilet by the years of mismanagement.
The Country was blessed at independence. Relatively under populated, endowed with envious abundant natural resources & world class agriculture management & infrastructure, hard working & entrepreneurial working culture, sound education, administrative & judicial systems left by the British, plus races that generally got along, with no major divisive religious fault lines.
Fast forward to 2010. The world is now an intensely compact & competitive planet, thanks to the internet & globalization.
And what do we have in Malaysia ?
Instead of focusing on rallying and uniting the population to bulk up to compete against other nations who are rapidly advancing up the learning curve in leaps & bounds, we are suffering a thousand cuts of internally inflicted wounds.
Who can & can not use the A word. Which race is the “chosen” & “privelaged” to receive the bigger slice. How do we handicap the faster running so the weaker can catch up. When is best time to use what language to teach maths & science. Constitutionally when do we not insult the monarchies.
The forgoing silliness is not going to end any time soon. All the “talent Corp” mumbo jumbo is just more of the same feel good – do squat largess for some crony to have some fancy title & spend the rakyat’s hard earned money.
I don’t believe that Santa lives in the north pole, and babies are delivered by fairy storks. I am staying put.
Good luck to those who are more hopeful. But then Badawi was also supposed to be the messiah.
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5 Why is Malaysia experiencing a brain drain? « Lim Kit Siang // Dec 21, 2010 at 11:53 am
[...] Evelyn Wong, Guest Contributor New Mandala December 20th, [...]
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6 Greg Lopez // Dec 21, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Evelyn’s research brings to fore key issues that have been assumed but not proven – or what every Malaysian knows but cannot say for sure. The causation or correlation can run several ways but importantly it provides empirical evidence of what are some of the key issues that push or pull the brain drain. Najib’s administration would do well to look at this study, enhance it and take corrective policy measures. Otherwise 1 Talent Corp, will be another pork barrel for people close to the administration to have plum jobs and international travel at the expense of the Rakyat.
A few other relevant articles on brain drain.
1. Tracing the brain drain (read here)
2. Foreign spouses and brain drain (read here)
3. Malaysia: Higher education goals (Read here)
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7 Sammy // Dec 21, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I am a rare malaysian indian who made a decision to call Australia my new home. I was brought up in KL, and both my parents are patriotic malaysians who worked in the civil services all their lifes.
Trust me, I was very patriotic in my schooling days and will celebrate merdeka cleberation on Dataran every year. But things changed after SPM when i realised the racism part of malaysia. I saw my malay msulims friend were offered up to 4 different courses in the IPTA, and i was left with none. My parents could not afford overseas educiation for me and i had 2 other younger siblings.
I managed t scrape through a College degree in Engineering, and when comes to employment, i was the last to be considered becuase i am a non-malay, non muslim, and dont speak chinese dialect. The government agencies totally never responded to my application, and i wonder why.
Then i move to australia, and the headhunter told me, he was lucky to represent me because of my education and job background. To make things short now i am working for BHP Billiton as and engineer with 5 figure aussie dollar salary.
My question malaysia is, why can BHP hire me and Malaysian govenment and private sector find it difficult to offer me a job.
Secondly i got a place in University of Queensland which is ranked 30 in the world but i can even secure a place in a local malaysian university.
Thirdly i dont wany my children to be discriminated like how i was, and i dont want them to tell me, “Dad, you knew malaysia is racist, why u never do anything about it”.
Now i am proud to call my self australia (not australian malaysian indian), and Malaysia is just a place i was born in, and i am not going to bother to contribute in any way to our racist malaysian govenment. The only contribution i can make is fly through air asia every 3 years.
Sorry Malaysia i made up my mind.
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8 Phillip John // Dec 21, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Born and raised in the silver state ( now a disgraced silver state), I was offered a place in an Australian University after my F5. But my parents were too poor to even buy me a bus ticket to the next town.
I had to cycle to work, about 10 kms one way and mum used to pack lunch. We needed the money so we could put food on the table.
But we preserved, I completed my Phd from UK and rest of family members are professionals in their own fields
I forsaw this coming, but it came too fast, the corruption, declining education system.
I bribed the cops, when they were wearing ” Saya tak rasuah” for small errors like cutting on a double line etc. I paid my dues, my taxes only to be marginalised when the UMNOputras were having a good time looting the country.
I decided to leave with my young kids. My new country treats me well, I work hard, pay my dues and the government is transparent. nobody asks me on my cultural background or my sexual orientation.
I have been going back for holidays and believe things are only going to get worse.
I love the food, the smell of Malaysia but i think my kids and the rest of us are better off in our new country
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9 JayCee // Dec 21, 2010 at 1:33 pm
As long as the Malaysian government continue to promote and defend ethnic based policies that favors the majority race, you will continue to see “brain drain” from the country.
All is not lost as the country welcoming these skills workers will benefit from their contributions. Some one once said, “brain drain is better than brain in the drain.”
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10 Why is Malaysia experiencing a brain drain? « randytoo blogs // Dec 21, 2010 at 1:44 pm
[...] Why is Malaysia experiencing a brain drain?. [...]
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11 Pam Leong // Dec 21, 2010 at 2:13 pm
nearly all my peers (in the 40s) planned to migrate and will execute their plans in the next 5 years. reason, we have a rotten education system that trains the young to replicate rather than to think and be skillful.
on top of that, the manner to which wealth and opportunities are distributed is unbearable. the poor are not getting the help they need to ‘leap out of the fire stove’ and likely condemned for another generation.
before going out to retrieving the drained brain, stop the brain drain instead. statistics telling us those migrating are increasing in number each month. and with them, they take their skills, experience and MONEY elsewhere.
Perhaps, as my good muslim friend says, all this is due to Alhamduillah.
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12 Richard Summer // Dec 21, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Many months ago when this issue was raised, I did a calculation based on an average of 20 years of consistent migration and an average reproductive rate that 1st generation born in Malaysia who migrated and their 2nd generation overseas born who would have been Malaysians if they were born in Malaysia number close to 4.5million. What set me off doing this calculation is both my and my close relatives’ experience. This is quite startling and has a significant effect in the brain drain debate and the dilution of intellectual capability as the majority of those who migrated are university graduates and a portion consist of PhDs.
Just to relate the experience of a close friend who went overseas to study, did his PhD and returned to work in Malaysia. He left after 2 years as he found he was required to sign off on projects which did not meet his professional standards of integrity just because they were the requirement of a former PM. Many of the former class and university mates who left live and work a fulfilled life based on merit and achievement, the sense of self worth, worthy contribution to their society and achieving a level of professionalism that they can be proud of, something many tried but faced barriers when they were in Malaysia. Some tried to return but eventually left as they faced the same barriers that they had hoped were history but had become unfortunately entrenched in Malaysia.
As a country, we have lost significant talent and capability and many HR professionals lament on the significantly poor quality of professionals they have to deal with and recruit in this current era with no signs of improvement in the near horizon given the state of the education system. So much for 1Malaysia. No future, no hope and no FDIs.
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13 leftmalaysia // Dec 21, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I left Malaysia 4 yrs ago. Back then I command a salary of RM5K. I now command a salary more than triple of that. The govt of the country i am living in kep the country safe, advanced and clean. The political situation was never in question, most of the people believed the government did most of the right things and I think they did and still am doing. The country isnt ranked as one of the more corrupted countries in the world, there are hardly any news at all of corrupted politicians. The steps the government take are always after much consideration and always have the right and logical reason. Above that, they are transparent on their decision and how they arrive at it, challenging the people to disagree. Dont even think of trying to bribe the police here. They dont even looked fat or have that gangster look. During the last 2007 crisis, the country survived and thrived instead of declining and I found the pressure of losing my job almost to nil. The basic necessaties here are affordable and the transportation goes where you want them and located at strategic location. I dont have a car but then I dont think i need one until my children reach a certain age. The taxis dont overchrge you or attempt to rape or rob you. The food is not as good as Malaysia but I think thats a small price to pay for everything else.
I used to be patriotic, I even joined MCA thinking I can make a difference. I left feeling disgusted. I argued with my wife when she wanted to leave the country for a better future. Now I totally agreed with her and regret we did not left earlier before I see all the growing shi* in the political arena.
I am just one person but almost every other Malaysians I met in a foreign land agrees with me. Leaving Malaysia was one of the best decisions they ever made… Sad but true.
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14 yessir // Dec 21, 2010 at 6:50 pm
I have the idea that this near-intolerable situation, that drives people to these heart-wrenching decisions, is hardly due to incompetence. A few countries are benefitting from the outflow of brains and entrepreneurs. Now, consider that against the very cosy treatment that
- Malaysian leaders get in their personal affairs including investment in these countries
- business leaders from these countries get in Malaysia.
As a parallel example, consider the outflow of destiutes from Burma, who provide a vast pool of labour in Malaysia, and the cosy relationship of these 2 governments.
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15 neptunian // Dec 21, 2010 at 7:38 pm
People were leaving Malaysia for good for a variety of reasons. The same reasons are still here, so the idea of the “Talent Corp” is just another fat paycheques for the boys.
What jobs or prospects will “talented” Malaysians or ex-Malaysians be doing in Malaysia? Who will they work under? There are a whole bunch of “talented” Malaysians here and now in Malaysia, but are not gainfully employed (to their potential) due to cronyism, lack of accountability and the lack of consequences for failure – if one is a connected individual.
Research? This is a joke in Malaysia.. ok, there is some research in Porim, formally in RRI etc, but not much else. Anyway, researchers are paid next to nothing.
Let’s have a look at some scenario for a potential returnee;
1. Trans-national corporation – hire young, graduates from home country for positions way beyond their experience or capabilities. In senior critical position, bring senior pesonnel, or head hunt from home country, then transfer to Malaysia. Possibility of a Malaysian being hired here (in Malaysia) for senior positions – slim to zero. Else Malaysian, already have senior positions overseas transfer back to Malaysia! – “Talent Corp” has nothing to do with this group. They will be posted here regardless.
2. Major local Corp (GLCs) – Non Bumiputras need not apply. A splattering of positions are available for non-bimuputras, but only to “kawan baik” (good friends) of a senior Bumi.
3. Major Local Corp (Chinaman owned .. Oops Chinese Owned) Non family or related parties need not apply. Chinese corp, even if public companies are only in name.. they are run like family owned businesses. The head of family makes all the decisions. Regardless of positons, titles etc, family members desires and decisions comes first. A junior manager (nephew etc) can override a General Manager (non-family member)
Now, please tell me, where does the “talented, returnee Malaysian fit in?
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16 ALiBaBa // Dec 21, 2010 at 8:47 pm
My wife and myself left for further studies in Australia in 1967 and lived there happily ever since. Back then we could foresee these sorts of imminent ‘problems’ that are facing Malaysia today coming due to politicians playing racial and religious cards. In this ‘downunder’ land which practices meritocracy, there are equal opportunities for everyone who is willing to work hard. We run a small business and made our millions. Our sons are professionals, one is a commercial pilot and the other is a orthopaedic surgeon. I still care for the place I was born. So, you Malaysians please wake up!
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17 Evelyn Wong // Dec 21, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I really value all the input Malaysians have shared on the topic, whether it be negative or positive feelings towards Malaysia. Anger is better than indifference.
There seems to be a general consensus that things are not going to get any better unless someone new does something about it – the question is, who? It’s easier to place blame than to work for solutions.
I see a hope in the growing civic consciousness of Malaysians. March 8 was the first time Malaysians in a decisive manner, displayed their displeasure at the ruling government. But will it happen again? And what else can we do besides voting, for those who have not turned their back on Malaysia? I believe this is something we can, and must, find out if there is to be a future for Malaysia.
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18 StillInMalaysia // Dec 21, 2010 at 11:39 pm
I am mildly disturbed by the amount of comments here that speak with such pride about their decision to leave the country. Is that really something to be proud off?
Some talk about patriotism and how they were forced to leave in disgust. But i wonder, these people were patriotic only as long as they blindly believed that government would care for them? Once they found out the harsh truth that the government doesn’t give a hoot about them, they suddenly lost their patriotism? Is this real patriotism?
If all right thinking citizens left Malaysia, then who will be left to oppose the tyranny and oppression of the ruling elites? Will there ever be hope for Malaysia then? If there is enough good people in Malaysia, surely the tyranny of the evil and greedy few can be stopped.
If you still love Malaysia, then please help those of us still here to save Malaysia and bring an end to the tyranny, oppression and injustice in the nation.
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19 Moe Aung // Dec 22, 2010 at 6:01 am
yessir, you’re right. The elites i.e. rulers and big business do complement each other even if they do certain things for different reasons.
The Burmese regime displaces people in their thousands both voluntarily as economic migrants and involuntarily as refugees from its genocidal wars against ethnic minorities. A brain drain and a vast pool of cheap labour and second class citizens for the neighbouring states.
In return these states are happy to continue to engage and prop up the military regime in Burma. Only the Philippines seems to be an exception within ASEAN as they do not have much contact with it. Lee Kwan Yu may think the generals are ‘dense’ and ‘stupid’, but it never stopped Singapore, with its own pool of cheap Burmese migrant labour, from exploiting the advantage and yes, prop up the junta.
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20 A true Nomad // Dec 22, 2010 at 8:15 am
This is a wake up call to “Still-In-Malaysia”. Have you ever wonder why your forefathers left China or India or what ever country they left and immigrated to Malaysia. Had they not not done so would you still have a better life in Malaysia. If you think your forefathers had done wrong in leaving their countries, I suggest you return to their homeland and try to put things right.
As for my children now studying in Canada. The level of education is far more superior than in Malaysia. I am sure they will be grateful for my decision to change their futures in making Canada their new home. When I first make a decision to leave Malaysia, I was discourage repeatedly citing that I will be 3rd class citizen (in Malaysia I have no class at all – still classified as pendatangs by the pendatangs, even though I am 3rd generation Malaysian). I am truly grateful for my grandparents who left China facing the stormy South China Sea in a 2 weeks junk-boat journey surviving on salted eggs, fish and porridge. My jouney to Canada takes only less than 24hrs with Steak and Wine to pleasure my palate.
As a Hakka, I am proud to be the new generation of modern day NOMADs. Still-In-Malaysia should learn from the wisdom of the Nomads. When the land has serve no more purpose to the communities, they move on to greener pastures. Think of it as migrating from one state to another state or better still from kampong to KL city. Why did you do so? The world now is getting borderless and moving from one country to another is no different from moving from one state to another. The only matter is your choice and the GUTS to do so.
Living in a new country takes some initial sacrificing. Having to adapt to new environment and rebuilding from scratch. As a parent we do this for the sake of our children and their children just as our grandparents did for our sake. Still-In-Malaysia, you should feel grateful for the courage of your forefathers that brought you to Malaysia. Likewise, you should feel thankful for your fellow ex-Malaysian who are willing to sacrifice for their children’s future. Stop the blame and if you are staying put, out of no choice, than do your best for your country. If you feel betrayed, I suggest you go back to your kampong and help your hometown friends or you can rot there just to be call patriotic.
My family is certainly happy here in our adopted country to be our permanent home without being call PENDATANG or even worst name.
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21 Sammy // Dec 22, 2010 at 11:08 am
Responding to “Still in Malaysia”,
How do expect me to risk my childrens future just for the sake of patriotism of Malaysia.
Countless times I heard Umno politician saying, “kalau suka tinggal dekat malaysia duduk diam-diam, kalau tak suka balik saja ke India/China”. For me this is the most hurtful and disrespectful statement to be told to their fellow citizens. And I know because of these statement, many people left the country. And the best part is Our PM, MCA/Gerakan/MIC, just kept quiet about the whole thing.
Secondly with a Trigger Happy police force, i dont wand my kids or family just to be shot under pretext of being suspect or just being an indian. And i can assure you that the police will just plant some “evidence” to tell that the murdered people are criminals. The even shot a 8 month pregnant women and a handicapped boy, then called them criminals too…, this is lunatic, beyond comprehension.
Thirdly, i have a right as human being to survive and put food on my familys table, if BN things i dont have these right just because i am a non malay, Malaysia is my enemy because it wants to eliminate and destroy my existance.
And that is how i percive Malaysia now.
South Africa was facing embargo and boycott from most countries because of apartheid, and i strongly thing Malaysia should also be penelised because of its racism towards its non malay population
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22 Koolgang // Dec 22, 2010 at 9:25 pm
My wife and I thought long and hard before we gave up our Malaysian citizenship this year. We hoped against hope for things to change after the surprised election result in 2008. All was for naught as the country continues to deteriorates.
We persevered in the face of blatant racial discrimination hoping that any right thinking govt will realized the folly of such policy in this globalized world. We continues to proudly say we are Malaysian despite the country being a laughing stock in the world because of the actions of the govt. We did not flinch when we were told to wait a few days more by our banker when we want to transfer some money. Because we hold Malaysian passport and their govt had classified Malaysia as an Islamic terrorist country.
But in the end, we decide to change our passport. Because the country is not even safe anymore. We see more and more private security in residential area. We read more and more about corruption and extra-judicial killing by the police. With a corrupt govt, inept civil service and compromised judiciary, if allowed to continue, will lead to a breakdown of the civil society. Mixed in all these is the officially sanctioned religious extremism which is a recipe for disaster. At best, we might become like Yemen or worse, become like Somalia.
So we say goodbye to our Malaysian passport and be happy with just an occasional visit to see relatives and friends. Chances are, we will start meeting them elsewhere, when they too move away from Malaysia.
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23 StillInMalaysia // Dec 23, 2010 at 12:56 am
No one blames those that left. We all understand the reason. Even i, when approached by friends asking my opinion about life in the land down under, cheerfully tell them not to worry. Adapting to life there is pretty easy. Migrate for the sake of your children’s future. Most of us have no option but to migrate.
But for every one of us that leaves, the tyrants are rejoicing at the departure of yet another ‘troublemaker’. So i remain, maybe just out of spite? Maybe out of some misplaced ideal?
Besides, Malaysia is where it is because of us. If Malaysia fails it’s because we failed. we allowed the authorities to inflict many grave injustices upon innocents all in the name of securing the peace and prosperity of the Malaysian people. And so now we reap what we have sown.
But if you still have any sentimental attachment for Malaysia, help to save it. Who knows, one day we may actually succeed in rescuing Malaysia from the greedy clutches of those incompetent elites. One day, the great-grandchildren of the ex-Malaysians may actually want to migrate to this future-Malaysia. A far fetched dream?
But then we all need dreams. Else life would be awfully dull.
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24 Greg Lopez // Dec 23, 2010 at 10:23 am
Neptunian @ 15.
You have captured the Malaysian scenario well. But it need not remain that way.
StillinMalaysia @ 23 – That’s the spirit.
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25 dahi ketiak // Dec 27, 2010 at 11:41 am
Good on you StillinMalaysia. I do not begrudge those who have left or about to leave. It’s a fundamental human right, but may I appeal to those overseas not to forget their kith and kin, and friends who are still in Malaysia. There are lots of ways you can help make Malaysia a better place from overseas. Talk to your local politicians and organisations. Those in Australia have done their fair bit as we can see that a group of Austrlaian senators have come out and criticised the Malaysian government. The more pressure the better. Join or not initiate groups in you area to support those fighting for a better Malaysia, not just the Pakatan Rakyat parties but also the many non-government organisations such as Aliran. All these organisations need financial and material contributions … it is too much to ask?
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26 Brain drain in Malaysia · Global Voices // Jan 11, 2011 at 2:24 pm
[...] Wong, writing for the New Mandala, studies the brain drain problem in [...]
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27 omer ibraheem // Jan 11, 2011 at 11:31 pm
very useful research
thanks
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28 Kenneth Ling // Jan 18, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I am actually a little surprised by the anger and disgust my fellow Malaysian emigrants feel about their country of birth. As someone who has adopted UK as his home for almost 20 years, I have always felt that my decision to live and work in the UK is related to personal and professional reasons. I understand that Malaysia is not a developed nation, and that all developed nations today had gone through a difficulty path to achieve developed status.
My view of Malaysia, overall, has always been relatively positive. I never take for granted what many in war-torn, poverty-laden developing countries would consider a decent country in which to live. For instance, we can expect to have clean drinking water, reliable electricity supply and modern public transport infrastructure.
I have some friends who have moved back to Malaysia in recent years after decades of living in the UK. They feel very positive about what Malaysia today has to offer. They understand that the irritating aspects of daily lives in Malaysia are ‘part of the package’ that comes with their decision to return. They, too, feel that being able to contribute or ‘give back’ to their country of birth has been an important reason for their decision to return.
Thank you for such an interesting piece of research on what I think is truly a contemporary and politically significant issue. This research will, hopefully, form a foundation on which more of such research studies could build upon.
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29 Greg Lopez // Feb 24, 2011 at 11:02 am
Alea Nishin, a young Malaysian contemplates returning home (read here)
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30 Ruger Fan // Apr 9, 2011 at 3:27 am
I grew up in Malaysia and through the encouragement from a close friend and perseverance, I wangled a university education in the U.S., arriving here in 1979 at the ripe age of 21. I have lived here ever since and have become a well respected professional, something I had not even dreamed of in Malaysia. While I can identify with many of the comments previously posted and my decision not to return to Malaysia has a lot of commonality with them, I am sure that every individual has unique reasons for not returning to the land of their birth. For a long time, when asked if I was Chinese, I would reply “Yes, by way of Malaysia.” – a way of clarifying that while I was ethnically Chinese, I was from Malaysia, not mainland China or Taiwan. I did so only to provide a precisely correct answer, not because I was proud to be a Malaysian. I have never been proud to have been a Malaysian citizen, having recognized from an early age that I was really a second class citizen therefore my citizenship wasn’t all that important. How can you feel any loyalty to a country that denies opportunities to those who work hard so that they can be larded onto others solely by virtue of their race. Worse, when one of those that they have denied these opportunities achieves recognition abroad solely due to their own endeavors, the government claims them as their own. How cynical. By contrast, I am proud to be an American citizen because I believe in the ideals of its founding and if called, I will defend this country, my country, with my life.
My political awareness occurred late in life, during George W. Bush’s presidency. I saw in Bush what it meant to have a political leader who loved his country and the citizens of that country. That doesn’t mean that I agreed with everything that he did, but for the first time, I saw what it was like to have a statesman as the country’s leader, not a politician. Since then, I have seen that many of our former presidents did what they thought was best for this country, not necessarily what was best for themselves personally or for their political party. This is what courage is about. Of course there were presidents who governed purely in a more politically calculative manner.
However, I digress. My intent was not to discuss politics, so I will not, although I needed to do so in order to explain the reasons I decided not to return to Malaysia. It can all be boiled down to the fact that I, like so many who have posted their comments here, felt unwelcomed in Malaysia. The discrimination was and is blatant. Worse than that, it is not only sanctioned by the government, it is government mandated. While I applaud those who are dedicated to the struggle to reform the counter-productive and human resource wasting policies, it must be done with realistic views of the challenges and not simply idealistic views. Fundamentally, the Malaysian Constitution and its many amendments do not promote the ideals that would allow any meaningful reform to take place. Contrast that to the founding principles of the United States, enshrined in the following excerpt from the U.S. Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”. In that sentence are two basic principles that will never be adopted in Malaysia: that everybody is created by God and are therefore equal; that the government only exists by the will of the citizens. Additionally, that the government’s sole purpose is to serve its citizens (“…a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”).
It would take a miracle for equal protection under the law and non-discrimination to be written into the Malaysian constitution because the levers of power will forever be in the hands of the Bumiputras. A side effect of the brain drain is to change the racial make-up of the country in the favor of the Bumis. The fact that they refer to themselves as the Sons of the Earth should be a dead giveaway as to why they will never give up the levers of power to the “pendatang”. The fact that I can trace my ancestry to the Nonyas and Babas who arrived in Malaysia in the 1400s means nothing to these Sons of the Earth. Here in my adopted country, I am free. Free in ways that those who have never experienced it cannot even begin to imagine. Of course there will always be those who are ignorant and prejudiced, but these are individual failings, not a failing of the society or country at large. It has been said that when people fear the government, it is a tyranny; when the government fears the people, it is liberty. Non-Bumiputra Malaysians, do you fear your government?
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31 Sammy // May 11, 2011 at 9:16 am
Talent Corp for me is just another political white wash as there is a general Election looming not far away. Knowing our PM very well, he is an opportunist who likes to paint beautiful pictures hiding the garbage dump at the back of it.
If you look at Talent corp it is very much interested in bringing back the Malay expats, and secondly wants Non-malays to invest in malaysia as the FDI is on free fall. I bet after the next GE, the will be no more news on this Talent corp headed by another umno malay who is possibly a member of perkasa.
What Malaysis need to do is try to retain the young non malays in malaysia first before going on a wild goose hunt.
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