Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
The Malaysian brain drain
I read this interesting entry from (presumably) a Malaysian who condemned the Malaysian education system. The blogger was talking about how Malaysia provides free primary and secondary education, only to have its top students then come over to Singapore universities for 4 years and then work in Singapore for the next 30 years. According to the blogger, for every 18 students with 8As and above, 6 come to Singapore for higher education.
I am not surprised that many bright Malaysian students are choosing to come to Singapore (especially Malaysian Chinese). Firstly, they are being systematically denied of life opportunities in their home country through the bumiputra system. Due to quotas being placed according to race, the Chinese would need 13 As to enter the top Malaysian universities, while a Malay could get in with Bs and Cs. I’m not making this up; I heard it from a Malaysian friend.
I asked a friend who just graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia, one of the top universities in Malaysia how much would she be getting when she finds a job. She told me RM1,800, and I nearly fell off the chair. That’s about S$800. And, according another Malaysian friend of mine, RM1,800 is considered one of the best salaries for a graduate. The starting salary in Singapore for a graduate is around $2,200 to $2,400 on average, and this is a whopping 3 times more than what a graduate in Malaysia earns.
If I were a top student in Malaysia, of course I’ll choose to come to Singapore and work here for my entire working life. With proper savings and investment, most Malaysians who are graduates can go retire back to Malaysia with at least 1-2 million ringgit. It’s a no brainer whether Singapore or Malaysia offers a much better life opportunity.
Besides, Singapore is very much culturally similar with Malaysia. It’s not hard for Malaysians to assimilate into Singapore society. There is a discernible difference in terms of the accent, but the differences are very slight. Compared to other foreigners, Malaysians would be most able to integrate into Singapore society without much problems. And, compared to other foreigners, they are less likely to be viewed as “competitors” for jobs. It’s weird, but I see most of the anger towards foreign talent being directed at nationalities other than those from the region.
The brain drain is a big problem for Malaysia. If they don’t do something about it, Malaysia will continue to lag behind Singapore in terms of development because its talents are coming into Singapore and contributing to Singapore’s development instead! However, I bet that this brain drain will continue because no Malaysian politician will dare to do away with the bumiputra policy. The Malays in Malaysian have been spoiled by the policy and will never agree to the revoking of the policy. It’s a Catch-22 situation. So, Singapore will prosper at the expense of it’s larger neighbour for many years to come.
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about 5 years ago
While M’sia is having a brain drain to Singapore, many young Singaporeans are emigrating- or rather, escaping, to other countries like the US, Canada or Australia.
Equally interestingly, the political climates of M’sia and S’pore both play a part in their respective brain drains- bumiputra in M’sia, and for Singapore- I need not describe.
about 5 years ago
Aaron,
When I was in the US, I met many Malaysians. The super-top ones go to US. Aiyah, Malayians getting paid 3 times more in Singapore? What is the big deal?! I was offerred US$80K per year for my skills if I didn’t miss laksa so much I wouldn’t be back in Singapore making less than $50K a year. …
Aaron, if you’re only interested in money and willing to sell your skills to the highest bidder, what is your chance of remaining in Singapore? Very small. …If you’re not a minister, Singapore is unlikely to be the place that pays the highest for your skill.
The reason people stick around is because of friends, family, laksa, nasi lemak. …also because of the PAP govt where else in the world do you have such an interesting govt to blog about.
Some Singaporeans have also left for Malaysia like this guy (http://blueheeler.wordpress.com)because they manage to find opportunities
there – its not a one way street. …
As for pro-Bumi policy, have you ever imagine what is like without the policy? What will happen? Just look at Indonesia during the Asian Crisis and racial incidents before that. The Bumi policy although it is unfair, prevented a dangerous economic gap from appearing. The main casualty is some of the minority races who were sidelined (indians, eurasians etc etc), the Chinese who have a strong tradition in building businesses could do well despite disadvantages. Many still choose to remain in Malaysia because they are able to thrive in spite of those policies.
The Malaysians come and they prefer to be PR because they don’t want to do NS. Our govt tries to ‘force’ their next generation to do NS or deny them a place in NUS….they simply uproot and go to Australia.
about 5 years ago
aaron, i wanted to point out a mistake you may be making when you write about malaysians — it always sounds like you’re just talking about malaysian chinese. after we went to penang you made that post about how similar the two countries are, but we were exposed almost exclusively to chinese in a chinese dominated area. i think maybe you assume too much?
about 5 years ago
Aaron, I wish you were a Malaysian (but I’m sure the Malaysians are glad you are Singaporean). If every Singaporean thought like you and left to work somewhere else for the rest of his life for no other reason than higher pay, Singapore would be doomed. But I don’t blame you; you are the product of PAP’s Singapore.
I want to leave and work and live elsewhere too, but it’s not for the money; it’s because there are too many Singaporeans who think like you (not that I blame them; they are the products of PAP’s Singapore too).
about 5 years ago
adrianne,
If there’s a pro-Malay policy in place, why would Malays feel a need to leave the country? Of course the Malaysians that are affected would be non-Malay Malaysians. I don’t think I am assuming too much; it’s quite a logical thing to me. Besides, I am only dealing with graduate Malaysian Chinese in this entry. Even those with secondary school education rather come to Singapore than stay in Malaysia. You need to talk to more Malaysian Chinese to find out how bad things are in Malaysia. Every Malaysian Chinese that I talk to has nothing good to say about their life opportunities in Malaysia as a result of the bumi policies.
about 5 years ago
disappointed,
I think you are too quick to jump to conclusions. It doesn’t mean that if another place offers me a higher pay than Singapore, I would go there. The reason is simple. I think that material comforts is a form of diminishing returns. Up to a certain point, more material satisfaction brings about little increase in life satisfaction. The difference between Malaysia and Singapore is vast. However, I don’t perceive the difference between Singapore and say, the United States to be a big difference, especially with a strengthening Sing dollar and lower taxes all-round. It’s not a matter of who pays more, it’s a matter of who pays enough. Of course, the question of how much is enough is another issue, but judging from responses I get talking to Malaysians, in particular Malaysian Chinese, it clearly isn’t enough.
about 5 years ago
Lucky Tan,
The top 1% go USA. We take the next 9% also not bad what. One must have a sense of proportion, right? Just as it doesn’t make sense to quibble over $40 million in a $200 billion economy, it doesn’t make sense to quarrel over 1% when we have the next 9%.
Anyway, I note your point about political and social repercussions without the bumi policy. This is why I said it’s a Catch-22 situation. Damned if you do one thing, and damned if you don’t do it. Life sucks.
about 5 years ago
Aaron,
::: Just as it doesn’t make sense to quibble over $40 million in a $200 billion economy:::
You are so right we can always count on our govt to focus on the right thing. 9% better than nothing. But given that we have alternative sources from China & India, we should make these malaysians compete even harder we will that in 3% rather than top 9%.
But as people come into Singapore, I guess we cannot quibble when people go out of Singapore – talent leak problem. Not everyone is as easily satisfied by the Singapore laksa compared with myself.
about 5 years ago
Lucky,
“Have you ever ever luv a woman….” know that song? Its more like wherever she chooses to live is the reason. Well almost. lol.
———————-
The reason people stick around is because of friends, family, laksa, nasi lemak. …also because of the PAP govt where else in the world do you have such an interesting govt to blog about.
about 5 years ago
You can just replace the word Malaysia with “Singapore” and the word Singapore with “any Western country”. Then replace the words “bumiputra policy” with “PAP policy” and your blog entry still makes sense.
about 5 years ago
Imo, it’s not just the pay and the bumiputra policy that will cause Malaysia the brain drain.
From what I read on Malaysiakini, minorities are seeing their civil liberties becoming increasingly hampered. You get politicians waving the kris at their political rallies, calling for a bloodbath in order to protect their political status. Then you also get the Subshini case, where the Hindu mother was told to go eff off and take her case to the Syriah court, where she’d almost definitely lose.
From the employment perspective, Malaysia has a HUGE number of graduates, and not enough entry level jobs for all of them. Plus, you also have employers complaining that graduates don’t have an adequate level of business english to work effectively in the marketplace.
That being said, a Malaysian-Chinese told me a few weeks ago that ‘at least we get to vote’. Haha!
about 5 years ago
aaron,
yeah i was really just talking about the other post. i know you clarified that you’re only talking about the malaysian chinese here. but i’m not convinced that malaysia is very culturally similar to singapore. i recently started hanging out with some friends who are VERY malay and they have a completely different cultural mindset.
i’m thinking of brain draining somewhere. it’s really tough to get a good job in the US after university anymore. when i say good, i mean interesting and suited to one’s abilities. in the US the trend is toward more school — so now the bar has been raised from bachelor’s to master’s for good jobs. singapore’s tight job market makes me envious.
about 5 years ago
As a Malaysian chinese, who studied in S’pore all the way while staying in Malaysia, my point of view is just that, MOST malaysian chinese ( in Johor n Malacca) at least, are not interested in working in Malaysia, if they get the chance to. Many are not given the opportunity to work overseas, and those who are given the opportunity, do not want to come back. I have a friend, who’s whole family works overseas except the dad. My few Malaysian friends who stayed behind are those who have family business. Only one or two stayed becuz of family.
Pardon my limited friends in Malaysia, but in a place if you dun have a business, and (as a chinese there), you are marginalised, where security is bad, where good career opportunities are pretty limited, it doesn’t make sense to stay.
Perhaps I’m money minded becuz I think of my future n my future family, and yes, I’m a fresh grad earning over $4k a mth and my grades suck even. Back home a friend of mine working 6 – 7 years as a senior engineer with an MNC, earns that amt in ringgit. the only reason he stayed is becuz his parents are old n he needs to take care of them.
about 5 years ago
Do you know that people emigrate not just because of the high pay? High pay = high living expenses, so it would almost be the same in every country, please bear in mind, don’t ever convert when you are referring to salary, coz it would be comparing orange and apple, totally incomparable. Salary range is depends on the size of the firms and the cost of living of the country. In Malaysia, there are still firms offering above the range you mentioned, in fact, its RM3,000 onwards for a fresh grad, of coz this is an international firm. One more thing, we work not mainly for the money but because we love the job we chose. Money is not everything, S’porean are too money minded. Don’t u watched ‘I not stupid’? That is really a typical S’pore family, parents are too busy to care for the kids, coz they are busy earning money. Kids need love, care, attention and most importantly guidance.
People emigrate because they want a better quality life for them and for the benefits of next generationsss(primarily education). Imagine u have the chance to migrate to Australia, don’t u want it? Australia is a much bigger country compared to S’pore, it is definitely a beautiful country, fresher air(means not so much air pollution), still a lot of greenies around (unlike S’pore), the atmosphere is less tense compared to S’pore, the people are friendlier (from the sales assistants to the doctors), and the list continues.
Let me, being a Malaysian, tell u guys something. It is not as bad as u were told, coz u just happened to meet those unlucky ones. Chinese here are very independent and smart and hardworking and most of us are financially quite well(as in can afford to sent kids to colleges instead of local uni, btw, local uni is still using bahasa melayu in lectures and exams, it wont help very much if we intend to work overseas or even international firms, bear in mind English is the international language),so even without the supports of the government, we still can held our heads high and credit our parents for giving us the best even though in the bad(as you mentioned) circumstances. This system actually does fine for us (looking at the long term) because we are more competitive in the market, of coz I mean international market, with our education backgrounds (college/overseas uni = majority those ppl’English is better compared to those local uni people) and characteristics (those common in Chinese are hardworking, smart, able to work under pressure, patient (the system test our patient actually) and so on. Career opportunities are good here, again, of coz I mean for those international firms only. Doors are always open for smart Chinese as compared to others. Do you know that those who don’t have a job after grad are mainly Malays, that’s the reason crime rates are increasing.
Don’t you guys ever think of parents? Since you have been well taken care of, now, its time to repay them, sometimes they don’t need money, just some precious moment with you is everything.
It’s not how much you earn, its how much you can save for the future!
The friend of yours is under paid. Coz one of my friend work in MNC as engineer, his starting pay was RM3k++, then now after 3 years of experience, around 6k. even in audit line (big four) 4 years experience will have RM 4k to 5k, if MNC as in accountant, its double the pay in audit line.
about 5 years ago
AC,
Firstly, it is a sweeping statement to say that Singaporeans are money minded. Are you not money minded? If you are not money minded at all, why are you even trying to discuss money? You would have engaged the topic using arguments other than money. However, your using of money to prove most of your arguments suggests that you are not immune to being money minded after all.
That aside, using engineers and auditors to disprove my point is hilarious. These professions usually command the higher salaries in ANY society. If you want to compare apples to apples, you should compare a Singaporean auditor versus a Malaysian auditor. A Singaporean auditor will earn at least the amounts that you described, if not more, and in Singapore dollars.
There are always good opportunities in any country. Even in Singapore, MNCs usually pay better than local firms. Therefore, your argument doesn’t make sense to me because no matter where you are, MNCs generally tend to pay better, especially for talents. The question now really is whether the ordinary man in the street actually gets paid better. I don’t deny that there are opportunities in Malaysia, but relative to Singapore, I would say it’s much lesser. An ordinary graduate would earn several times more in Singapore compared to back in Malaysia.
I do not mean to showcase Singapore’s “superiority” with my arguments. What I am trying to put forth is that I think Malaysian graduates are generally underpaid, and they can earn much more by going overseas. And, it’s easy to come to Singapore because the cultural and language barrier is not that high. Besides, being so physically near to each other, a Malaysian working in Singapore can go back home very often to see his/her family. I think it’s a nice arrangement in that much better pay can be received at minimal opportunity cost.
about 5 years ago
I would love to get a Malaysian PR if I can’t get an Aussie one.
Just no understand what’s so good about a S’pore citizenship.
about 5 years ago
It is so easy to get Aussie PR if you speak English and are a graduate,professional or even a trademan (yes, even a chef or hairdresser) these days. Send me a brief email about yoursealf at “ausmigration@iprimus.com.au” if you are serious. As for Aussie citizenship, 4 years PR and English is required. No NS, no NEP,no none of the political things that bug you and no discrimination (that cuts both ways – you are not allowed to discriminate either). I left and I’m very happy. The laksa in Sydney is pretty good! Five thousand extra PR places are being offered this year. Send that email if you are serious.
about 5 years ago
1.how on earth that some people would think Malaysian government is outperformed Singaporean government ? (any idea?) What make malaysian so proud of its nation when the MPs still wielding the keris in the parliment?(penghulu still rule?) and people on the street take corruption as norm in their daily life?(police as licensed gangster?) any reason not to leave this country ?
2.my ancestor came to this land 80 years ago for a better living opportunity, so theirs descendant will have the same reason to leave this land for good, anything to argue about that?
3.some people come to Singapore to work because of strong dollar, true, but this is not the whole context as i view it, please taking into account that singapore provides good public transportation, housing, community safety, world class civil facility, and over here there is no dumb ass shouting’ lu ta suka u keluar dari sini’ therefore i have my peace of mind….
about 4 years ago
For all these talks about good Singapore and bad Malaysia – what is the point? You are Singaporean living in Singapore and presumably happy with your situation. You earn all those money or will earn so and so much that you said three times more than Malaysians do. You like those people currently running Singapore government – man, you are in paradise. What are you complaining? Given all these circumstances and still unhappy Aaron makes me think you are really an unhappy person as much as any Singaporean is. Despite wealth of the country, high earning, and good governance as you said, Singaporeans are miserable, discontent, and sorrowful and always seeking condolences from people abroad – why? Aaron, if you don’t know how to thank people or never say ‘please’ in your life that is what you will get – an unhappy life. If you never know how to look back in your life and see how you owe so much to Malay natives of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, these people will continue to haunt you in your imagination and soon you will surely be uprooted from your beloved Singapore. If I have to say anything about the sickness of Singaporeans is that you are as sick as your Zionist brothers and sisters in Israel. Living arrogantly in land taken from natives really is the source of ingrate and we all know the end is almost definite.
about 4 years ago
Dear Abdullah,
You are clearly jumping the gun with your accusations. I certainly hope this is not what Malaysians are capable of. If you are representative of Malaysians, then it’s very sad. Thankfully, I know of many more Malaysians who are much more rational than you have demonstrated.
If you read my entry carefully, what I wrote was based on a MALAYSIAN’s own assessment of his own country. I also base my entry on information garnered from the various Malaysians I’ve talked to. All these people who said negative stuff were your own countryman. Instead of letting your ego get the better of you and accusing me of trumpeting Singapore at Malaysia’s expense, maybe you should go think about why your countrymen are saying such things in the very first place.
And, what makes you think that Singaporeans are miserable, discontent and sorrowful? Do you happen to live in Singapore? How do you know? At least I can claim to have some basis for what I write because I talked to Malaysians. I did not invent the information. You on the other hand appear to be spouting some biased view based on whatever misinformation you have. Let me tell you that yes, I have misgivings about the Singapore government. So does a number of my countrymen. However, the same can be said for your country. The Malaysians I have talked to proves it. It’s normal behavior. Can I also conclude that Malaysians are, in your words, “miserable, discontent, and sorrowful”?
And I think you need to see a psychiatrist. We have excellent facilities here in Singapore. And no, don’t worry, you will be bound in a strait jacket. We are not so barbaric. What does Singapore owe to Malay natives? What Singapore has achieved is owed to Singaporeans, be it Chinese, Malay, Tamil or otherwise. In Singapore, we do not discriminate and punish those who do. Unlike your country, we do not have official discrimination just because one is a “Malay”. And Singapore does not belong to the “natives”. Malaysia kicked Singapore out, remember? Thank god for that, else we will still be at the native stage like you.
I did not wish to insult you and your country, because I have many good Malaysian friends. But your brainless-ness leaves me with no choice but to screw you over (shit, that sounds so Anwar) and put you back in your place. However, bigots like you probably are going to remain in your bigoted dreams and fantasies and never wake up. So stay in your dream of being a leopard skin clad native with a spear in hand.
about 4 years ago
Oh yes Mr Abdurrahman, I forgot to add that those Malaysian bloggers I read are also evidence that most Malaysians have more brains than you. Maybe you should read Jeff Ooi, Kenny Sia, Ahiruddin Atan, Marina Mohammad and Yasmin. Among these five, I have only spoken to Yasmin before but she’s so much classier than you.
about 4 years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7w6UcP3H8w&mode=related&search=
Don’t throw it away, but if you do shout out mazatov! Shalom!
about 4 years ago
I don’t know the percentage of Malaysians I represent but to tell you the truth I don’t give a damn (I don’t care much) about the so called brain drain if the brains that you talk about are those poisoned with contempt of the natives of the lands they came to steal and occupy.
Also, natives’ own brains are quickly catching up with the invaders wits that all these brain drains that you are crying of are no real threat to the country. To me, better brains out there with better loyalty already are replacing brains that might have belonged to traitors – that might have been better at undermining country’s stability than doing any good.
Good that you have been assessing the progress of the country, but better still if you can figure out how patriotic are real Malaysians if compared with the not so real ones who are ready to jump on the plane at the slightest threat to country’s security.
We fought for the country in the past and we are here to die defending this bastion – to put it more correctly we are here to defend this righteous way we are leading when people like you tend to succumb to the more corrupt ways imposed on us by Western and Zionist entities.
I don’t know who those Malaysian you talked to but my guess is that you have talked to the same people over and over again when the real person you need to talk to is someone like me. You ought to thank me for giving this enlightenment if it has shaken your gut. Those people whom you have gotten information from that you said were my countrymen were most likely bent at sabotaging the country and if you continue to refer to them then fear the day when we decide that you are one of them.
Please say it louder when speaking of having misgivings about the Singapore government. [This Aaron, readers, has been telling us about his misgivings towards the Singapore government – which we all have longed to hear. What are you waiting security, you know how to find him, don’t you]. Hey Aaron, “miserable, discontent, and sorrowful†are the words you are going to repeat in prison for being Singaporeans and for writing too much. How about jumping the border eh, the Johore strait and write for our newspapers?
Tunku Abdul Rahman kicked Singapore out because he did not want to deal with Lee Kuan Yew or trouble himself with Singapore problems. If Tunku was still alive today to see the mellowing Hsien Loong, he would have advised us to remarry and become one country again.
Did premier Lee say the other day Singaporeans ought to see psychiatrists for their greedy behavior and never say thanks or please attitude. Well, you better be quick at following Lee’s advice before we all follow the Thais in rejecting Singaporeans. Why do think Lee offered that $500 million if not for buying sympathies from Singapore’s neighbors?
If you haven’t seen these points I am lending to you, I think it will be much better if you shut up rather than repeating second hand nonsense you heard from your useless friends eh. Think about the size of your island and how much money had been wasted in buying all those fighter planes. Israel is a much larger area if you think Singapore wish to be another Jewish wannabe.
One more thing, I really like to hear you say ‘thank you’ for all these tips I have offered. Lessons are supposed to be put into practice. I am not going to waste my time any more indulging in silly quarrel with you. I have a better job to do.
about 4 years ago
Tips that you offered? Sounds more like self-gratification of an inferior ego. I will leave you in your intoxicated state of denial. Every Malaysian I have talked to are very much a Malaysian as you. The only reason I can think of you coming here to spout your nonsense is because you are in the privileged position of being a bumiputra, which hardly means anything to me, really. One who knows no real hardship as a result of artificial cushioning by the system is not fit to preach. All the Malaysians I talked to were marginalised by their own country and deprived of good life chances, despite being much better than many of the bumis. Don’t sit there in your loft and dream. Prove that you are really better with deed, not words. It’s true that Singaporean leaders have made some mistakes here and there, but even with the mistakes we made, we fare so much better than others. I guess there’s no point playing the zither before the cow, for the cow knows not the beauty of the tunes produced by the zither. Whatever it is, you are always free to seek psychiatric advice in Singapore. I’m sure we will be glad to put another lunatic out of his misery.
about 4 years ago
Aaron,
leave the monkey to screech in it’s cage.
Remember the saying – “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”
This person is clearly not even on the level of a ‘mediocre’ mind, so there’s obviously no point to listen to his islamophobic (ohhh yes, his “zionist” conspiracy garbage – eveeeeerything’s a zionist conspiracy!).
As for ‘natives’, he meant more like in the sense that he suscribes to the flawed ideology that Malay people and Islam once ruled the entire Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and so on, when they were actually historical Hindu land fought by Hindu kingdoms, first colonised by Indians!
http://www.geocities.com/wilfred_shimmen/critique.html (Written by Dr Leong of NUS)
So there, it never was of his current “Malay” natives (Who themsevles are not bumiputras, sons of the soil, since they themselves were immigrants), it never was part of Zion and still isn’t, and there is no great Jewish conspiracy!
about 4 years ago
To all the malays, you are not natives. Your forefathers are indonesians given ICs so that the government can get more votes. The only natives are the orang asli and those from Sabah & Sarawak. Stop dreaming, give us back our lands and go back to indonesia!
about 4 years ago
uhhh.. this isn’t really related to the topic, but i hv something to say about the much hyped malaysian astronaut thingy. let’s not kid ourselves, ok, the government paid $1billion to the russians for fighter jets in exchange for a bench seat on the team – like collecting a ring for playing a total of 0 minutes in the NBA finals! while the starters do real work for 6 months, the malaysian “he is now officially a scientist, woo hoo!” guy goes sightseeing for 11 days. he was picked from 11000 malaysians, yay! clap clap!
O puhleeezz!!
reminds me of the government officials who ballyhooed the OUTSTANDING achievement of our no.1 university when we were ranked like what, in the high 100s, only to be told that was a mistake and corrected to, like, 1000+!
after decades of proof that the affirmative action policy to pamper, uhh.. i mean assist, bumis does absolutely nada to really help their cause, except made us fall way back of our neighbors, the emperor is still wearing his new clothes ~ sad isn’t it?
about 4 years ago
As a Malaysian, Abdullah’s comments just shows that he is only living in his own tiny world. People like him makes the country appears worst than it is now. Like i always told my friends, it was a good thing that Singapore was separated from Malaysia, see how Singapore has prospered over the years! Obviously we are the ones at the lower end of the economic scale.
And people like him makes people like me feel very glad that i am leaving Malaysia soon, to Australia, no doubt to a much better country with better oppotunities.
about 4 years ago
Hey guys.
just ran into this blog while searching for a completely different topic. But anyways..reading ur posts, couldn’t help but to issue a few point of views that I have.
I’ve actually lived almost every part of the world and been in Singapore for the last for years. I have to admit that I didn’t move here out of choice. But that being said, I don’t think I would have been here for the last 4 years if I didn’t have any pull factors working on my side. Here are a few things I could assert about Singapore.
1. SECURITY – is a major issue. With chaotic situations exploding almost every other countries, Singapore still remains a popular place for ppl that need not worry abt taking a hike in the middle of the night..let alone any terrorism issues.
2. The pay for foreigners..Im not sure how it is for the locals but as an expat, I have no complaints over the pay even though prices are rising all the time. And I only have a general managerial positions while my banker mates earning more than twice my pay.
3. The weather is brilliant and so is the food. Its a vibrant city with ppl from every corner of the earth possible. Which discounts racism to be of any sort of an issue. In fact as an expat I get more respect from my local colleagues than anyone else. And mind you, half the time I even get praised for my bullshits.
I would have to agree with a few of the Malaysian posts here. Yes there are definitely the bad sides of Singapore just like any other cities in the world.
I do not quite agree with the fact that most of the ppl here are not happy. However, they have been raised with a very materialistic set of mind. As such their values are different. Which is nothing wrong really. It makes them happy to get paid $10 bucks more than the previous job. So why not? Yes we can argue that most of them havent seen the rest of the world to appreciate what “life” really is.
But to sum it up..if u’ve been raised outside singapore, it probly wouldnt be the ideal place if ur seeking freedom, fresh air, and want to meet up friends without planning ahead a month.
about 4 years ago
To AC and Abdullah, you must be those lucky ones living comfortably in Malaysia. How envious because I think that Malaysia is still a preferred choice comparing to those cities that I have live & work including Singapore for the past 15 years. My comment is that not all individuals are as lucky and they need to travel everytime due to market forces for survival and to protect their love ones as top priority. Spending power of an average Malaysian is much less than in Singapore. Those Malaysians that I have known and still residing there mainly live and spend on their parents savings & retirement funds or otherwise live in highly geared mortgages unlike in Singapore which is much more balanced. This is because the current salary their are drawing whether from MNC or local company cannot cope with the current living stds especially in urban cities like KL & Penang. Just my thoughts and experiences without bias to any ethnic or nationalities.
about 4 years ago
i don’t think its considered wrong or unpatriotic 4 malaysians migrating 2 other countries. its normal 4 ppl who wants a better life 4 themselves right??? that is the reason y our chinese & indian ancestors left their homeland 2 migrate here in the 1st place.
2 Abdullah Abdurrahman:
no offence but instead of trying 2 prove 2 others how smart you are on your IQ y not give suggestions & ideas on how 2 fix brain drain problem which is plaguing M’sia right now. that is the real purpose of this blog been posted.
about 4 years ago
The problem:
“Greed”
about 3 years ago
Aaron si bodoh!!
tanyelah bangkai bodohmu, sape Perdana Menteri dan all leaders of the country!? smua melayu! sape yang in PoWER!? Melayu!!!
itulah makna tulen Ketuanan Melayu, bodoh!!
yang in POWER tu lah yang paling bijak!
smua cina lancau ni KALAU TAK SUKA, BALIK KE KANDANG ASAL KAMPUNG MANA U!!
Abdullah Abdurrahman: Alhamdulilah saudara Melayu ku. kita mesti pertahankan ketuanan nenek moyang kita dari pendatang-pendatang asing yang BUTOH ini DEMI MASA DEPAN ANAK-ANAK KITA!!!
about 2 years ago
Melayu ni memang bodohlah sudahlah curi minyak orang sabah tak tau malu! Palui!
about 2 years ago
Being a Malaysian Chinese, I find more and more difficult to survive in Malaysia especially for the young generation.
I was born in 1960 when the government and society is not so “muslim” and more friendly.
At that time, Chinese, Malay and Indian can sit in the same kopitiam, eat, drink and talk freely to each other without need to think about religions, ISA, ….
When I was in my secondary during the 1980s, I found things changed from free to rigid and constrain, understand to religion, sharing to selfish, …
Malay teachers will gather all the Malay students, close the class room and talk to them secretly what schoolarships, where to apply, …. left the Chinese and Indian students alone.
In 1990s, I was lucky to get into University because of my excellet results, but most of my chinese friends who study STPM with good results also but still unable to get into U. But my Malay schoolmates with lousy results get into U, some even get Medic.
Now in 2000s I was married with 3 children. All the children I had to send to tuition Malay and English because don’t have qualified teachers to teach them properly.
The government has send inedequate Malay teachers to Chinese Primary schools to teach subjects like Malay, drawings, PE, …
Can you immagine a how a Malay teacher who do not understand chinese at all to teach a chinese primary 1 and 2 students!
The funniest is that a drawing teacher commented my child’s drawing that she can not get good marks because some places in the drawing are blank, therefore marks must be reducted. Drawing is fill in the blank! White is not a colour?! All my effort sending my child for 2 years in private drawingschool go down the drain.
I think most of Malaysian Chinese love their mother land, Malaysia. But due to job opportunities, pay, and also enhance their young generation education, they have no choice but left their beloved country.
I come from a family of 5 children. I am the only one who still stay and work in Malaysia, all my sisters and brothers’ family are overseas and hove no intention of coming back due to the social and economy changes in Malaysia.
I can foreseen that if nothing going to change in Malaysia, my children and others will go overseas one day in future and never return to Malaysia anymore.
about 2 years ago
I don’t normally contribute to blogs but you guys have indeed touched a raw nerve. I was a Chinese Malaysian. I love Malaysia and will always do. I came to the US ~20+ years ago to seek higher education (that’s right – my SPM/STPM results weren’t good enough to get me into a local U because I was a Chinese Malaysian). It obviously was very very frustrating to me. It was not my choice I was born a Chinese Malaysian. Nobody asked me what race I wanted to become before I was born, but I was punished for being a Chinese… something that was not my fault or even my choice. If Allah offered to convert me into a Malay Muslim; hence a bumiputra, I definitely would have taken up the offer. But it was a curse no one could break. My best friend who was Malay with lower grades entered the very local U that rejected me. I recently met him on Facebook – he told me that he was too ashamed to contact me all these years because of that. I took comfort in knowing that, and he will forever be my best friend.
If Abdullah and Budakmelayu are reading this – please imagine for a moment yourself in my shoes. When it is happening to you… when you are denied of something as precious as education because of the color of your skin, it is very very personal. No matter how much I tried to understand the historical perspectives of bumiputra status, no matter how much my brain understands it, my heart still felt the injustice, which was very overwhelming, because it was very personal. Everytime I had homesick or even when I miss Malaysian food, I was reminded about the bumiputra system. I attended a university with many MARA-sponsored Malay students – they all owned superbikes like Kawasaki Ninja (most probably paid by the Malaysian government too). They would zoom pass me when I walked home from work at night I had to work as a janitor, and even illegally off-campus as a waiter and other odd jobs to support myself through school. I thought to myself… I probably have better grades that those Malays too, but I had to clean the toilets while they enjoyed their superbikes because I was unfortunate to have been born a Chinese Malaysian.
Now ~20+ years later, I am a proud US citizen, and raising a family in the US. I remember when I was sworn in as a US citizen, the officer said that there is no such thing as a second class US citizen; there is only ONE class of US citizenship… I immediately had goose bumps all over… I told the guy who was sitting beside me that I was becoming a US citizen for this very reason; because I didn’t want to be a second class citizen. I am also quite proficient in Mandarin now and feeling very proud being a Chinese American!
My personal story is one of many. I have a group of 30+ Ex-Malaysian family friends here with similar stories of their own. I have had many years to reflect on this issue although it is still mind-boggling to me how much of the bumiputra system has impacted my personal life, my being away from my parents to study, live, and finally settle abroad to raise my own family. I am not angry at anyone. I am writing in this blog simply to share my personal story. Most government policies have no impact on us but when they do they could have a very profound and personal impact. Though not always the case, mine was definitely a blessing in disguise. I am doing way better than my Malay friend in Malaysia, emotionally (yes, pride!) and financially (don’t mean to brag here). I can tell my personal story proudly as a professor to aspire engineering students; I doubt my Malay friend can do the same. Peace.
about 2 years ago
reading some comments here alone are enough to convince malaysians that they should leave.
about 2 years ago
I am Malaysian, and I do not think that Malaysian should be over concern with the so called brain drain. Off course we need all the talents that we have, but it must be in the way that they use their talent for the benefit of the nation, not the other way round.
I would prefer to have a fellow citizen who works as general cleaner, but have great affection for the nation rather than a world class neuro-surgeon who mind are elsewhere. These people are opportunist, who cares nothing about their fellow countrymen.
Some of Malaysians who worked overseas actually is in search for experience or to get better knowledge, with the mind that they will use it for the advantage of the nation, perhaps by returning later or providing their expertise, even at lower wages.
For those who did it simply for individual gain, or by smearing the reputation of this country, asking for ‘world class salary’to return(which they know they could not get in the first place), applying for other citizenship, then we Malaysian should all be thankful that we can get rid of people like this.
I’m not sure what the Malaysian-Chinese perspective are, but I can say from Muslim point of view that, it is wrong to leave a Muslim nation, who are providing safe heaven for Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to a non-Muslim nation simply for worldly material gain. This act is condemn by the religion and is not in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet. Perhaps that is why you see less Muslims who left the country.
The Malay policy may sound racist, but it is in fact a poverty reduction policy. That does not mean that the non-Malay who are in need should be neglected. And in what way it reduce the quality of life and business of the non-Malay? If there are any shortcomings in any area than it is due to governance and birocratic procedure. If there are non-Malay out there who thinks that they have been neglected or being treated unjustly, you should know there are also many Malays who feel the same. But to use it as a reason to leave the country is an easy excuse.
Wallahua’lam
about 2 years ago
I am a malaysian chinese, i can assure you if given the opportunity, all the non malay in malaysia will definitely emigrate for the sake of their (and their children’s) future. This is not only about $ but security, unfair policy, poor education system and so on. 8 out of 10 of my friends are considering to migrate to either singapore or australia for better future.
about 2 years ago
I’m not siding anyone or even against anyone. This is my point of view.
If that Malay policy is a poverty reduction policy, my mum would have gotten a low cost apartment she applied for, when her husband left her and her son(yours truly) years ago. We went there numerous times a year and I’m talking about years after years since I was 10 or 11 years old. Everytime we went to the housing department and check our status, we were only told to wait and they don’t know what is the status. If they don’t know, then who else can i ask… God? It’s really frustrating until we got our first place on our own.
What I’m saying now does not represent all Malaysian. And I know majority Singaporean is complaining about their country and same goes to us(Malaysian). But which country complains more on low income, races not well treated and further more with a very weak currency. You have answer to that, I guess. Low income…you know ler. Races not being treated well… i guess that goes for both the country and weak currency… need no further explanation. If you are talking about graduates who earn a lot after graduation, that only applies to graduate but what about the rest of us here in MALAYSIA??? Tell me now, have the ministry or bodies suppose to be incharge of all these have been looking at a bigger picture? I know of graduate that can earn up to RM27k a month after many years of work…. but then again how many are getting that type of salary? one person?
And best part is now ministry is helping graduates to find work. and they actually listed gpa with a minimum of 2.5 and above…. so what happen to the lower ones? Go and figure your own lor. And second, does the ministry give priority to races applying for job? most may guess and know well enough how the system work looking from this.
If I have the opportunity to work in other countries, of course i would love to. It’s because of the hassle permit application that makes most of us stay till today. Malaysia is still a country where you can make lots of money, but not everyone has the opportunity. That’s why some choose to go another country and while some coming over to work.
Don’t worry be happy. If opportunity comes, then grab it lor.
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about 4 months ago
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