Brain Drain Chain

Wrote this days ago but didn't have time to pick out the quotations and post cos I was prepping for the JPA Biasiswa Agong interview.

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I ran into this interesting chain of letters on The Star's site while looking to see if mine had been published (yes, it has. syiok sendiri lah). It started off from this statement by the Minister of Higher Education that he's asking public unis to recruit more non-bumiputra lecturers.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed wants to see a greater representation of non-bumiputras in academia.

He has asked public universities to recruit more non-bumiputra lecturers, attract the best brains, and develop a vibrant academic environment.
...
The minister acknowledged that the percentage of non-bumiputras, especially in promotional posts, was low.

In Universiti Malaya there is only one non-bumiputra dean among 20. In many of the other universities, there is none.
...
For a start, he is now holding monthly meetings with vice-chancellors,empowering universities with greater autonomy and cutting down bureaucracy.

“These things are happening; if you talk to some of them, they will tell you there is more engagement. I engage a lot more with them and they are quite happy. They can provide input as stakeholders and they know that it is taken into account,” Mustapa added.

Then this Dr. Chris Anthony sent in a well-written, well-argued, and clearly embittered (as I will be in 20 more years) response:

...
The over-enthusiastic implementation of policies aimed to restructure society within a short period should be blamed as the single most important cause of the systematic elimination of non-bumiputras from the civil service, armed forces and public universities.

Many of them who were loyal and dedicated have been denied their rightful rewards and their contributions ignored.

Others with great potential have been put in “cold storage”.

The outcome of all this is that the vast majority of non-bumiputra Malaysians have become disillusioned and are giving up hope of any future prospects in their own motherland.

Many of these intellectuals have reluctantly left for the private sector, were their capabilites arenot utilised to the maximum .

In fact, many have to contend with carrying out routine substandard work just to earn to live and support the high cost of education for their children in private institutions and even foreign countries.

A significant number have even migrated to countries where their talents are better appreciated.

We have a very unique situation where a person is able to get better recognition in a foreign country, whereas he has become a stranger in own motherland.

I am sure that many belonging to my generation would recall the good old days when we started in civil service with full dedication and enthusiasm to serve our nation till the end. But sadly, along the way, we were pushed aside just for belonging to a particular ethnic group.

In a way, we are becoming strangers in our own land.

Reminds me of Horowitz's use of the phrase "ethnic strangers" to mean different ethnic groups that one feels no kinship with...

This girl wrote to agree with him, and I really want to get in touch with her, because I have the feeling that we're in similar situations, studying in "Western" countries but resolved to return home eventually.

I am a Malaysian student studying at a university in Melbourne, Australia.

Even before leaving Malaysia, many of my non-bumiputra peers already had intended to apply for permanent resident (PR) status in Australia, stating that there would be better job opportunities and a better life.

It makes me sad to think that my generation, which would technically be the generation of tomorrow, are slowly migrating overseas.

What happened to the pride of being Malaysian?

My peers always tell me there is no “hope” for success in Malaysia. To be honest, I understand how they feel.

Although I have also thought about applying for PR status in Australia, deep in my heart, I know there is no place like home.

I wish to return and serve my country when I am done with my studies and, hopefully, I will not be put into “cold storage.”

It is time to put a stop to good people leaving our homeland.

Then this old fart's letter got printed.

In my opinion, many of these people make such decisions even before they start their courses because they feel insecure and do not have confidence in themselves.

How many of them would end up as high achievers and get good jobs in a foreign country?

What planet does he live on? Student emigration is a selective process. Yes, there are lots of stupid international students, but on average students who emigrate are better performers on average than those who study in their home countries, simply because they have to pass through more, and more rigorous, selection processes - uni admission in developed countries, having to earn financial aid (unless their parents are damn rich), and obtain visas.

And once you've finished four or more years of uni in a foreign country, you're not a wooly lamb about immigration policy any more. You KNOW you've got to be good enough to beat the natives in order to even have a dream of staying.

And lastly (to date), a reply from an overseas Malaysian:

The hundred or so Malaysians I know working as medical professionals overseas do not do so because we are insecure.

Contrary to what he claims, the many I know work in world-class medical institutions.

The fact is that the grass is often greener on the other side of the fence. Except in this context, greener means fairer treatment, less discrimination and people being rewarded for their work.

True, the salary is often higher, but the many I know are fearful of returning because, sometimes we feel less like a second-class citizen being non-bumiputras in a foreign land, than in Malaysia.

Here, hard work truly pays. There is much to be done, much room for change, before Malaysia can truly boast of a fair system.