Sunday, December 19, 2004
Brain drain slowdown
It used to be the case that almost all world class researchers in Asia were trained in the US, Europe or Japan. Lately I've begun to meet scientists whose PhDs were earned in China, Korea and Taiwan who are nonetheless at the cutting edge of research. It is becoming more common for the some of the most talented students to stay at home at leading institutions such as Tsinghua (Beijing) or Seoul National University or Taiwan National University (Taipei). Looking at undergraduate degrees, China already produces vastly more engineers than the US - some estimates say three times as many per year.
Interesting. The flatness of the data for India is a surprise. I wonder if there is a recent climb in the number of Indian Doctorates. Again, I wonder how many Asian students from Malaysia or Singapore ot Thailand may be looking to schools in Japan or China.
ReplyDeleteAnne
There was a Times piece recently on SE Asian students starting to head to China for their postgraduate education, seeing the geopolitical handwriting on the wall.
ReplyDeleteNote the data I posted is a bit old, but I suspect the trends have continued and, if anything, been exacerbated by the visa issues encountered by many students trying to come to the US post-9/11.
Anne:
ReplyDeletehttp://travel2.nytimes.com/mem/travel/article-printpage.html?res=9C0DE1DF103FF93BA25752C1A9629C8B63
November 18, 2004
Chinese Move to Eclipse U.S. Appeal in South Asia
By JANE PERLEZ
In pagoda-style buildings donated by the Chinese government to the university here, Long Seaxiong, 19, stays up nights to master the intricacies of Mandarin.
The sacrifice is worth it, he says, and the choice of studying Chinese was an easy one over perfecting his faltering English. China, not America, is the future, he insists, speaking for many of his generation in Asia.
''For a few years ahead, it will still be the United States as No.1, but soon it will be China,'' Mr. Long, the son of a Thai businessman, confidently predicted as he showed off the stone, tiles and willow trees imported from China to decorate the courtyard at the Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center, which opened a year ago.
The center is part of China's expanding presence across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, where Beijing is making a big push to market itself and its language, similar to the way the United States promoted its culture and values during the cold war. It is not a hard sell, particularly to young Asians eager to cement cultural bonds as China deepens its economic and political interests in the region.
Put off from visiting the United States by the difficulty of gaining visas after 9/11, more and more Southeast Asians are traveling to China as students and tourists. Likewise, Chinese tourists, less fearful than Americans of the threat of being targets of terrorism, are becoming the dominant tourist group in the region, outnumbering Americans in places like Thailand and fast catching up to the ubiquitous Japanese.
As the new Chinese tourists from the rapidly expanding middle class travel, they carry with them an image of a vastly different and more inviting China than even just a few years ago, richer, more confident and more influential. ''Among some countries, China fever seems to be replacing China fear,'' said Wang Gungwu, the director of the East Asian Institute at National University in Singapore.
Over all, China's stepped up endeavors in cultural suasion remain modest compared with those of the United States, and American popular culture, from Hollywood movies to MTV, is still vastly more exportable and accessible, all agree. The United States also holds the balance of raw military power in the region.
But the trend is clear, educators and diplomats here say: the Americans are losing influence.
As China ramps up its cultural and language presence, Washington is ratcheting down, ceding territory that was virtually all its own when China was trapped in its hard Communist shell.
''The Chinese are actively expanding their public diplomacy while we are cutting back or just holding our own,'' said Paul Blackburn, a former public affairs officer of the United States Information Service who served at four American embassies in Asia in the 1980's and 90's.
China Radio International, with light fare and upbeat news and features, now broadcasts in English 24 hours a day, while Voice of America broadcasts 19 hours and will soon be cut back to 14 hours, he said.
CCTV-9, China's flagship English-language television channel, which features suave news anchors and cultural and entertainment shows, is broadcast worldwide. America may have CNN International, but in the realm of public policy, the United States has ''nothing comparable,'' Mr. Blackburn says.
Across Southeast Asia, American centers run by the State Department's United States Information Service, which once offered English-language training and library services, were closed and staff was slashed as part of the worldwide cutbacks in the 1990's.
The impact is still being felt. In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, the three United States information centers were shut. A new program, ''American Corners,'' provides books, computers and databases for a handful of Indonesian university libraries, but it has less impact, American diplomats said.
As Washington cuts back, China is providing concrete alternatives. The Chinese president and Communist Party chief, Hu Jintao, made clear the importance of China's cultural offensive to Beijing when he addressed the Australian Parliament last year.
''The Chinese culture belongs not only to the Chinese but also to the whole world,'' he grandly offered. ''We stand ready to step up cultural exchanges with the rest of the world in a joint promotion of cultural prosperity.''
The invitation is being accepted by growing numbers of Asian students who are taking advantage of proliferating opportunities for higher education in China. No longer are status-conscious Asian families mortified if their children fail to qualify for elite American universities, parents say. A berth in a Chinese university is seen as a pragmatic solution, even if the quality of the instruction falls short of the top American schools.
In Malaysia, students of non-Chinese background are flocking to primary schools where Chinese is taught, a reversal of a more than three-decade trend, said N.C. Siew, the editor of the country's major Chinese-language newspaper, Sin Chew Daily.
In Indonesia, the elite long favored American universities. The founding generation of government technocrats was called the ''Berkeley mafia'' because so many were graduates from the Berkeley campus of the University of California.
Today, the numbers tell a startling story, especially in Indonesia, an American ally where relations with China have been historically difficult.
Last year, 2,563 Indonesian students received visas to go to China for study, according to the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta, a 51 percent increase over the previous year.
By comparison, only 1,333 Indonesian students received visas for study in the United States in 2003, the United States consul general in Jakarta says. That was a precipitous drop from the 6,250 student visas the office said it issued in 2000 and part of a worldwide decline after 9/11.
Although many educators in Southeast Asia welcome the new openness to China, even longtime friends of the United States say China's influence appears to be growing at America's expense.
''You are losing ground, that's a fact of life,'' said Prof. Tanun Anumanrajadhon, the vice president of international affairs at Chiang Mai University. ''People here are talking of China and economics. People don't care about democracy now.''
The difference in ambition is noticeable, others say.
''China wants to be more influential here to replace America,'' Vanchai Sirichana, the president of Mae Fah Luang University, where the Sirindhorn Chinese culture center was opened early this year under the patronage of the Thai royal family. ''China is very aggressive in terms of contributions.''
First off, I (Malaysian) am a new migrant to Australia.
ReplyDeleteMy whole family migrated here a few years back to ensure a better chance for my siblings and me to get good tertiary education. I am now at university doing a professional course, the entrance examination was done in a fair and meritocracy manner, without any hidden agenda.
I've know what I can do for my country in the future, but the more I think about it, the more I begin to wonder: What has the nation really ever done for me? Does it really deserve my help now?
How can one do great things when one's own country won't let one do medical studies even though one has scored straight As in the STPM? Heck, one doesn't even need to talk about getting into a medical course. I know of one senior who scored all As and applied for pharmacy, but still failed to get that.
How do you expect these bright students to feel when they are instead asked to do courses like 'wood technology' or 'agriculture'? Sorry, but such reasoning, no matter what its basis, just doesn't hold any water for me.
I left because I am not bumi and I disagree with constitutional discrimination. Also, there is a world out there waiting for me to explore. If emigrants are labeled as traitors, what about corrupt business people and politicians who remain in the country?
But think about it - it is our own salary that provides food and shelter while other social services and infrastructure etc are financed by taxes - again, which we contribute to.
Why would people stay if their talents are not recognised in their own country and they do not have the opportunities to develop their potential? Why remain when they can have these opportunities in another country?
And yet countries like the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada and Australia accept millions of new immigrants every year. At the same time, their unemployment rate is high and definitely higher than Malaysia's. So, what gives? Why do they take in more people than they need?
As it is, there is a brain drain from this country, which has been going on for decades. If we cannot even retain our own citizens who have to uproot from the comfort of familiar surroundings, what hope do we have of attracting top foreign talents?
The bitter truth is that the majority of this nation don't see the need to change things yet and until then, we can do little about it.
Humans have always migrated throughout history - 'in search of better lives'. It is in our blood. Animals also do it. Some prefer to settle, others move on at whatever odds. The Chinese race is a good example of enthusiastic migrants. The Scots yet another.
Patriotism is not a one-way thing, it is a two-way commitment. If one finds that one's patriotism and loyalty is not reciprocated as having to live with a corrupt government, discriminatory policies, inhumane and repressive laws etc., one has a right to review one's patriotism and commitment if one so chooses.
I would like to stress that we are all independent individuals, and migrating is a personal choice which should not be condemned. We live in a free society and everyone's personal liberty should be respected.
In the US, anyone whether black, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, etc has the right to run for president. There are no restrictions, one only needs to secure the votes.
Discrimination is a myth of the past era of 'White Australia'. In reality, meritocracy is the only prevailing force in action. For instance, two-thirds of undergraduates pursuing medical degrees in Melbourne University and Monash University are Australian of Chinese origin from different parts of Asia. Isn't this strong enough proof of Australia's non-discriminatory policy?
A better life to all.
We made a decision to emigrate to Australia 15 years ago deserting my high fly corporate position with our three children.
ReplyDeleteIf history could turn back, we would still do the same.
It is a joke when our three children are fully qualified in their respective professions, then our Malaysia leaders only realize that "Actually English is very important in this era of globalization, let's go back to English again in our primary school for science and mathematics subjects".
It is fortunate that we had our own thinking and were able to jump out from this "black box" of trial and error type of management in practically every aspect of the government administration machinery. As a result, our children do not waste their precious years.
Our children enjoy the experience of equal opportunity not only in education but also in employment. That has a very strong impact in character development because then they believe in themselves i.e. their own ability and equal opportunity available for personal development to the fullest extent. And they could fight for their own rights too simply because the environment encourages them to do so i.e. Freedom to think, and freedom to express. They enjoy their work in their respective professions and they have both close Asian and Australian friends.
The Australian authority treats the problem of racial discrimination very seriously and takes action very fast. I still remember those days when my youngest son was teased by certain racial remarks by his schoolmate. My wife reported the case to the school authority and after a proper investigation, the Aussie kid was made to make a public apology to my son and was suspended a week from school attendance.
Australia herself is a country of migrants from all over the world, the Britishs, the Italians and other Europeans also never give up their citizenships although they may stay for over many many years. If they tell you to go back to China, you have equal right to tell them to go back to whatever country they come from. "Fight for your right" is the spirit.
What we are concerned is actually the management of the country. There is enough wealth to be distributed among all the people who can theoretically enjoy better education, better life and medical facility. But poor management and the evil "corruption" have eroded away what the people deserve. If people demand a change, "racialism" is always a powerful tool to protect the regime.
The Australian government extinguishes any little spark that concerns racial issue. There are strict laws and they are very good in enforcement. The two party systems ensure no one monopolizes the government. If the government is not good, people will vote it out for sure.
It is a land of plenty, and of equal opportunity for everyone. One will make his way if he is prepared to seize the opportunity and work hard for it. No one believes in "God" will give, and most believes the creation and reward from their own hands and intelligence.
Though we pay high taxes, the future is more or less ensured as in case we are sick or in difficulty, we have all the assistance from the authority. It is the right for every kid in Australia to have the opportunity to finish his tertiary education if he could make an attempt and possible financial assistance is always there.
Australia's economy is very robust now and most graduates and school leavers are doing very well. My three kids who are qualified as professionals at a very young age are doing very well. They would not have achieved that type of level if we were to remain in our country of birth. Thank God!
We face less racial discrimination in university and workplace in Australia than in our country of birth.
The ironical fact is that we are being treated more a first class citizen in our host country than in our own country.
Human rights, good administration, equal opportunity and transparency convince us that it is no point wasting our precious time in our own country.
If you really miss our own country, earn and save more money in the host country and join the shiver hair program later on. If you have the money, any country will welcome you for sure.
In general, it is an educated society. People talk not shout, and people reason not accuse and more over it is a much cleaner and more beautiful place to live. I am pleased with my decision and have no regrets at all.
For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia. Life in Malaysia is getting tougher each day.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, as a Chinese, I don't see there is any future for our next generation.
Another dangerous mentor that people always use is JFK "Don't ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country".
Is sound nice, but isn't how German Nazi and Japan militarism started the world war using the same mentor? Under the great "ask what you can do for the country".
Patriotism? Yes, I understand how you feel. Your love for the country was spoilt by the political party. Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries, if not better.
You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.
As someone else advised, be a Global citizen.
Patriotism does not need you to be in Malaysia to work your due. Let no one pointed at you and say you are a traitor if your true intention is to generate good deeds for Malaysia wherever you are.
Save your time about coming back to Malaysia. Nothing will change in Malaysia. At least not even in this lifetime. Racism will still be here to stay, and also everything else.
I think there is such an entrenched racist discrimination against the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, that it will take probably a whole generation to undo the damage.
This is happening in whole spectrum of the Malaysian government, civil service, state governments and universities. Just look at percentage of malays in all these government bodies - 98%厖?
A whole generation of malays has been brought up to think that it's their inherited right to own Malaysia. The other races are damned.
I think the malays especially those in power, are scared right now that if they will to compete openly with other races, they will surely be the loser. You will see very strong resistance to hire other races even the most qualified.
The malays are never brought up to compete on even ground. This is fault of previous PM and now the present PM has to tread a balance ground to ensure the malays are not cast away as well as to make Malaysia competitive worldwide.
In US I never met a malay immigrant, although there are thousands of Malaysian Chinese and Indian immigrants. Why? Malays in Malaysia have an easier life where they are literately prince of the land.
We have infrastructure good enough to be considered first world or better. Look at the Cyberjaya, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya?
Gleaming high-rise buildings but also in every city, dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. We just treat public facilities badly, not caring about others.
Being an urban dweller myself, I am constantly disheartened by the poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.
Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), un-integrated and poorly managed public transportation system, the list goes on.
Your children can't even walk safely along the Kuala Lumpur streets, as they might be bags snatched, kidnapped, murdered, raped, or robbed, as they do not know the jungle laws of Malaysia. The police won't help much as they now have a big pile of corruption cases running after them.
You owe nothing to Malaysia, you pay your due, so live on.
So, my last advice. Don't come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.
I'm sorry this sounds very racist but I think we have to be honest in discussion.
Congratulations to you who have found happiness in your adopted country. You have made the wise decision indeed to emigrate, and surely you and your family are enjoying every moment in of it in your newly adopted country.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt things are bad back home in Malaysia, especially those who are not born with the right skin color. Given the chance, I'm sure all the unprivileged ones would like to move away forever and forget about the mess back home.
Alas, not everyone is that lucky. Migrating to a first world country is not easy (why should it be?). Most importantly, you need to have money. I'm sure most of you started off your journey away from home with a tertiary education at a university in your adopted country. How many people in Malaysia can afford to send their children to study overseas?
I'm sure you can't emigrate just by telling the Australian immigration that you like their country so much and you were treated badly by Malaysia, at least not legally.
In the animal kingdom, animals migrate for food and water. Similarly looking at the history, migration actually is a natural process in which mankind has continuously looked for greener pasture. Very few countries (maybe none) actually maintain pure single race especially at this age of modern transportation and the world is getting very small.
For those who have emigrated, farewell and goodbye.
We do what we can and enjoy life in every moment we have.
Yes. Better fly off whenever you feel not satisfy.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do know is that with so-called special rights, Malaysia lost a lot of talented brains. Those well-off enough go overseas to study and stay there. The rest just make do. Some turn out to be big and successful businessmen. The rest may be on smaller scale but beside business, what can they do?
With many families who had moved to a country that outwardly displays basic rights, it would be wiser the families who're still in Malaysia can really push themselves to get settled in Australia, from been regarded as second class citizens. With so many who had already established, and became citizens of Australia, in all fairness they must pull the stranded families from the clutches of the evil and bigoted malay government.
It's pleasing to the hearts and souls to see success stories in this board, and hope many more can get out from the horrible and nightmarish daily events anyone have to go through been in Malaysia, that regards its other citizens as unimportant and not part of the fabric.
Once again success comes from hard work and determination, and I know everyone has to go through to get the rewards, but in Malaysia there's no such thing for any to be successful from determination, because it only favors one race and no one else.
No matter how many times you tell your encounter abroad, they would just turn a deaf ear, continuing to practise their racial discriminatory policy.
They are just like robbers. Time after time they'd said if you don't give us what we want, violence is the only answer.
Regretfully, there is no such thing as a free lunch in the real world. Whilst someone has to pay for it in the interim, everyone has to pay for it in the end.
There are a lot of sensitive issues that are 'forbidden' to be discussed with reasons being racism, national security or anything you call it. But not being able to discuss them openly doesn't mean they do not exist and I do hope to enlighten everyone.
ReplyDeleteI am not pointing fingers but this is what is happening.
Speaking from the perspective of being a Chinese, we had to study so hard with parents working twice as hard. It is either straight As or you'll end up in a local university much later doing a course that you don't really like.
I achieved straight As in my SPM. I applied for local universities with my results and when I got the reply, I was granted a course totally different from the one that I've applied for. Computer science (applied for by me) and agricultural science (the one given to me) - two very different things.
Yet, I have malay friends who got only Bs and Cs getting into medicine, engineering and everything they applied for. So many of my peers who are fantastic students with fantastic results and great brains ended up going to colleges through scholarships by other governments like Singapore.
When other governments can appreciate our talents, why are we treated like second-rated citizens in our own country?
Perhaps some of you reading this will say, well, the Chinese can afford it because they are rich generally and the government is only doing a fair thing in supporting the malays. Well, think again. I am not from a wealthy family, a lot of us are not too. When our government forsakes us, we had to work extra hard to pick ourselves up. So don't tell me that this is fair.
Affirmative action should be done based on social economic status, not race. How can you justify that the rich malays could get a 7% discount on semi-detached house, while a poor Indian factory worker has to pay full amount for his cheap apartment?
Our country is so far behind developed countries and only our pride denies us from accepting this fact. Examples? We don't even dare to compete on even ground with our automobile industry. Everyone knows the fact that if not for the taxes that the government imposes on imported cars, Proton will almost certainly be a huge flop.
We are 'forced' to buy Proton. Telekom is a monopoly and we are light years in terms of Internet connections. There are countless of examples.
Now, when we grow up, we ought to contribute to our country. But what makes the government think that they deserve our services?
My parents had to work extra hard and use up all their savings to pay for my education abroad as we didn't have a choice. Now, I've graduated and am working in the UK.
During my last visit back to Malaysia, I remembered a lady was asking me if I would come back to Malaysia and serve the country. I honestly said to her, 'Why should I?'
The country and the government rejected me and treated me as a second-class citizen and now I should serve the country? That must be a joke.
Even though I am not a British citizen but I feel so much at home here. I have been treated equally, I am entitled to health care and have the support of the locals.
No one talks about things like this. Forget the press, they are government tools. This is racism of the modern days. I lived through it as a child of Malaysia. Sad but true.
Malaysia export electronic goods, furniture, oil, palm oil, rubber, textile, timber……….and multi-lingual human talents.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with those who choose to stay overseas. As highlighted in my view, even my best mate and the best man for my wedding has sown roots in Singapore - I definitely don't "begrudge" him for that.
To me, do not begrudge them who are justly reaping the fruit of their hard labour and paying back a debt to the hand which fed them. It is very difficult to continue to love your motherland which does not love you in return.
There is nothing wrong with having different philosophies in life and taking the route that best fit those philosophies.
And what facilities (hardware and software) do we have to offer? Besides, what financial package could local varsities offer? Last but not least, the factor of critical mass. Can some one find the like-minded colleague to pursue what he is researching right now?
To some up the things, the affirmative policies should go. However it won't take place very soon or even be forever.
I have heard those "Malaysia Truly Asia" commercials on CNN over and over. I always felt the slogan was rather fishy. But you have supplied important details about matters that I only had a vague awareness of.
Why don't you do something to challenge the slogan? After all, Malaysia is discriminating against people of the two main nations in Asia, China and India. How dare the Malaysia government claim to represent the true Asia?
There is a theory say that Malaysia may suffer in 50 years time because all the best brains will leave the country once and for all because of the affirmative policies. Brain drain still takes place even today and tomorrow, and forever as long as the government protect particular race and particular industry.
If the theory is correct (time will tell), then the so-called world class universities will stay as dream forever. To be world class, there should be 100% open policy with fair play field.
Bolehland is still in denial syndrome.
I am a former Malaysian who has lived half my life in Australia. I feel that it is incumbent on me to lay bare the cupboard as it were so that people can gain an accurate insight of what real life is like for an Asian migrant in a country like Australia.
ReplyDeleteLike the many tens of thousands who saw no future for our children in the land of our birth that we deeply loved, we came to Australia with trepidation and heavy hearts in the days following the dismantling of the shameful and odious race-discriminating White Australia policy.
Apart from free speech and the right to express one's views without fear of any backlash, one of the first things we found was that race and religion have no place whatsoever in Australian society.
After determining for ourselves in real life that there was no racial group that was regarded as being superior to any other group and that we had precisely the same rights as any other Australian, we determined to be even more productive citizens.
The rewards soon arrived. Owing to their comparatively good results in the Higher School Certificate examinations, our children were in the envious position of picking and choosing the universities and the courses they wished to attend - and all for free.
In return, Australia has benefited greatly from the high income taxes that our children are now paying in their chosen professions.
In this regard, will be disappointed to learn that I do not own a business, let alone a prosperous one to hand down to my children. My children have to make their way in mainstream Australian life like everyone else - and so they should.
It would be comforting for most people to know that in Australia it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone on color, race, religion or sex. Equal rights for all means precisely that - no ifs, no buts about it. Hence it is possible for anyone of any faith who so desires and is good enough to become prime minister of Australia.
A large amount of the high taxes we pay goes towards the upkeep of the unemployed, the disabled, the needy and the pensioners. There are no freebies or special concessions for anyone else.
As freedom is speech is recognised as a basic right of every citizen, migrants have no problems expressing their complaints or views of self-serving or corrupt or incompetent politicians or bureaucrats in the open media. An impartial judicial system exists for all to take matters further.
Citizens have the right to preserve whatever cultural heritage, customs and language they are comfortable with and there are organisations set up to address whatever complaints and problems they may encounter in the pursuit of their traditional way of life.
Pensions and other forms of welfare payment are issued strictly on a means-tested basis. If anything, the system has been accused of being far too fair and generous. Malaysian retirees and others who have not worked or paid any taxes in Australia have been known to receive pensions in Australia after satisfying the means and residential criteria.
As race is such a non-issue in this country, nobody cares or bothers to pay any attention to the financial success or failure of any particular race in the community. To do so is to invite ridicule and scorn. After all, we are all Australians together.
The same benchmark that is set with respect to educational and professional standards, opportunities, job promotions, asset acquisitions and so forth applies to everyone bar none.
Given the special privileges accorded, apparently in perpetuity, bumis in Malaysia will clearly find Australia a turn-off. On the other hand, minority non-bumis who are not as fortunate may have a different viewpoint.
The reasons are economic and education. If we find the local environments do not suit us and we find there are or have found greener pastures overseas, why should we not go?
ReplyDeleteThis is the age of global economics. Are we Chinese continue to work the old traditional ways to start small business like car repair shops etc, while the game today to global?
Every human being, be it malay or non-malay should have an equal right to reach to the level of his/her ability. Do you see this possible for Chinese without double or triple efforts?
Yes, Malaysia is losing so many talents as a result of NEP and not knowing how much damage had been done. In my own family circles, I have not less than 5 nephews and nieces who are top scorers and opt to be overseas working and doing very well.
The gist is that there is no such thing as having the best of everything. When one implement policies that favours one race to the detriment of another, there is always a price to pay.
The price is already showing from top university status to junk university status. Everything from airline to our currencies are heading south.
Any solution? No definitely not.
An entire community cannot be changed overnight and from recent events it will head further south. Meanwhile just watch what will happen after peak "oil".
Remember a lot of Malaysia exports and industries are foreign owned who may pack up anytime to China or India.
Palm oil? Indonesia is overtaking us. What have we left?
Human resources……….what human resources do you have when you churn out degree mills by the thousands of low standards not recognised by the world?
Most people are heading to Australia because many can foresee that in the next 10 years, it will be virtually impossible for a middle income earner to send their children to local university, taking into consideration cost and the infamous "quota".
If you are in Australia, a bus driver can afford to send their children to university like Melbourne/Monash/RMIT without digging deep into their pockets. All because their taxes are well managed channeled towards the right direction.
We are all proud but the Umno government they are not proud to have us (non-malays) around as our attitudes and work ethics put most of the malays in shame.
My attitude toward the country changed since 13 May 1969. We all knew it was Harun and Razak who plotted the racial riots and got away with murdering thousands of Chinese.
All my children and grandchildren are in Australia. Some have Bachelors with honours, Masters, PhDs, and etc.
They are no such blatant discrimination like we are having in Malaysia.
My daughter is a professor, son is a financial planner, son in law is a businessman, grandchildren all doing very well.
If they are still in Malaysia, I am sure they just cannot compete with even fourth grade university graduates of Ketuanan Melayu.
So, they are too tired to fight with all the obstacles that the Umno government placed in their path. If you are brilliant, you do not need the "shit".
If you intend to emigrate, let me know, I can introduce you a couple of brilliant migration agents from Australia.
One thing for sure is for those non-malay graduates who have graduated are they prefer to develop elsewhere, most probably US, UK, Singapore and Australia.
ReplyDeleteThey need not to come back as the Malaysia government doesn't give a damn of the non-malay graduates background. What the prime minister is more interested is developing his own religion and race. But still the non-malays can afford to emigrate and develop elsewhere.
Is not that we choose to follow this way, but instead we are being forced to develop elsewhere. Everyday I am sick of hearing their sweet promises and excuses. Today I give you this and that. Tomorrow comes something else. In the end it was a pure rotten egg.
No wonder I got 5 out of 10 friends settling down in Australia after their graduations. Ask them about the Malaysia politics, none are interested. Ask them about the local education system, none bothered. So I ask them why do they come back to Malaysia during holiday!
Well, the answer is to renew their passport or IC. Most come back to meet up with old friends and to celebrate new year with their beloved families. That is it. A simple well-mannered honest answer.
Nobody would say I would come back for the national day or even during king birthday. The sense of patriotism just isn't there.
I have lost confidence with the BN controlled government from the day I left for Australia. I also was rewarded with financial assistant that I could not get while I was in Malaysia.
Malaysia would not be achieved Vision 2020 if preferential treatments for malays still prevail. Pak Lah and gang should start scrapping the discriminatory policy be it public or private sector.
Don't mention about coming back to the Malaysians overseas. This is like an ugly woman who keeps on telling all the men around the world, "Please marry me. You are ungrateful for not marrying me………." - Malaysia would better be a nice woman first.
Feel appreciated? These people are being polite. Many would return if only they feel they are not being robbed. The truth is the NEP is really robbery. It is basically an unfair tax system that robs the future of non-malays.
Let say you run a company. Imagine being asked to invest in a country that taxes you higher than most people. Imagine also that the more you can make, the higher the tax rate while majority of others gets tax breaks and subsidies.
Also, if you are successful, you have to give up some equity, even majority in some cases. Who would invest?
For non-malays it is the same, when they choose to work and live in Malaysia, it is an investment both personal and financial. They get the bare necessary support and often thrown obstacles along the way.
They pay most of the taxes and their savings are abused. If they are successful especially very successful, they are expected to give it up, and not to the needy and deserving, but mostly to the wasteful, undeserving and arrogant.
It is a no brained for towering non-malays. In fact it is a no brained for all non-malays.
My sincere advice to these towering Malaysians is to stay where you are and don't come back! Also think of your children's future and education, which this country cannot provide.
This country only wants thieves, non-skilled labourers and criminals from Indonesia, Bosnia and Bangladesh. The only qualification is that he is a Muslim.
My brother found a job in Australia two weeks after graduation. Got his PR a few weeks later. All individuals I have spoken to compliments and agree it is the right thing to do.
Not one has the slightest disagreement with my brother decision. The sentiment among my relatives and peers are obvious. There is no pride for non-malay in Malaysia and never will.
I got a few friends in UK, Swiss, to further PhD in biotech. They won't come back to Malaysia as Malaysia can't provide them the technology that they currently using, studying. Of course they feel unfair in the Malaysia system. That is it, Time to Change……….
Recently I have talked to Malaysia friends about the issue of returning home. Not surprise me that they all have their Australia PR.
Please do not criticize us that we are not loyalty, we are grown up in national schools, we do not really have "well-funded education" as a Malaysian should be. The main concern for us is the secure feeling of staying in Malaysia.
Despite the public security, it is more about uncertainty we have percept since we are born. I do not expect my children future ruin in your hands.
I think all Malaysians should try hard to educate their children to be global citizens, i.e. give them an education that will enable them to survive anywhere even in India or China.
But if you are a connected crony your children will be able to prosper for the next two generations until or at least our energy reserves run out.
After that we hope they will be able to make the correct life choices. If they settle overseas it means we have less hotel bills to pay when we tour!
Malaysia may yet change for the better. The minister got it right this time - "You can't fool all the people all the time".
Everyday I remind myself this: Study harder; make money. The grass is greener on the other side, not for myself but definitely for my children.
Migration is perfectly normal. But it is the circumstance of one decision to migrate is the issue.
Please all of you - don't come back. Malaysia does not want intelligent people: they are difficult to control (i.e. LKS, Karpal Singh etc).
I have so many friends and children of friends, who stay overseas that when I go there, I feel more at home than here! I feel free there!
I went to bed troubled at the huge loss of talents that could have helped Malaysia become another Japan. So many brilliant people are coming forward to narrate how they made good in other countries when Malaysia, the country they were born and bred in, failed to treat them fairly.
Everyone knows Japan story.
The Japanese phoenix worked because they built back their country as one people. They didn't have a Petronas rebuilding the country. They were a country starved of natural resources, but the biggest asset and wealth of post-war Japan was the people themselves. They recognised and made full use of the talents of the people, for the country.
As long as the NEP and the affirmative policies are in place, more and more will emigrate and the loser is Malaysia.
The solution is simple. However, in this country everything boiled down to pampering one race which has proven again and again that it is not working after 50 years.
Our leaders are not bothered about all these word and they will brand the emigrants as not patriot to avoid finding solution for the long benefit of the country.
To all, for time being, emigrate to other country to teach a lesson to BN the hard way.
I am saddened and confused for this ongoing bias treatment from the government. My final piece of advice for those who is studying overseas. Don't waste your time ever by coming back unless the government changes its policy. Try to develop elsewhere.
Good luck.
I am a Chinaman Malaysian, no pun intended and I am no proud of it. While I am not really a target of the government's drive to reverse some brain flow, I cannot tahan but to pen a word or two on that seemingly off-the-cuff statement.
ReplyDeleteI am kampung boy who grew up amidst paddy fields. Twenty years ago, along with tens of young Malaysians, I was lucky to be hired by a large Singapore multinational firm. However, the oil shock made our stint there short-lived. The company offered us student loans to further our studies.
We have never looked back since. Now, while most of us are in the IT industry, we are also involved in manufacturing, law, journalism, grain processing, airlines and academics. Similarly, while most are based in US, we are also in Australia, Japan, Singapore and UK.
Now, among us, how many have seriously considered returning to Malaysia to work and settle down? So far, a big, fat zero.
The terse comment in itself speaks volumes of the status quo in Malaysia. It is a classic feudalistic approach to handling things - the godfather way.
I wonder whether our man had thought of the very reasons why people flee the country in the first instance.
Least of all, the all-encompassing, racially discriminatory policies that suck the life out of citizens. Widespread corruption. The lopsided judiciary. Sickening politicians. Cruel and oppressive laws. Abuse of power. Absence of accountability. And the police? What a mess!
I also wonder if the PM-to-be realises who his audience is. Malaysian professionals abroad probably worked their butt off so as to reap the present-day fruits of labour. They are highly educated, and are keenly aware of things Malaysians and her malaise. Many have voted with their feet out of helplessness or disgust with the status quo.
Here are two questions for our man. How many Malaysian professionals does he seriously think, would want to forego what they have accumulated abroad, and return to the same environment that drove them out in the first place?
Does he also truly believe that Malaysian professionals abroad, once returned are convinced that they can contribute to nation building despite the stifling draconian laws that gag reasonable freedom of announcement, activity and expression?
Yes some, but not many will return.
For most professionals, living abroad has its own ups and downs. But, you get dignity, fair treatment, and respect for your ability. You get a voice, too. And ears to hear you.
Also, Malaysia does have a shortage of doctors and it seems ridiculous that Malaysian government-sponsored medical students are not required to return home.
All said, I do not lose hope. But talk of nation building should start at the individual level. If you take the oomph and the aaah out of the individual, chances are, no finger-snapping mere politician can lure him/her back to contribute to nation building.
I stand corrected.