By: Natalie Shobana Ambrose
theSun, Malaysia (pg 12)
November 1st, 2012
Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, there is a bitter exodus of brain drain in Malaysia. It isn't a new phenomenon for us, so much so that it has forced organisations to actively lure back talented Malaysians through targeted career and job fairs. It has also seen the birth of initiatives such as TalentCorp.
While acknowledging the good efforts of those trying to address this concern, there are many realities that a flat tax rate and cursory benefits cannot make up for, and these realities have yet to be addressed. Let's be clear and honest in calling a spade a spade. It's time to have real discussions about this important issue, without feeling slighted and told to leave the country if you are so unhappy.
In order to address issues accurately, we need to be able to critically engage leaving emotions to one side. Hopefully this article captures some of the reasons in a pragmatic manner and will create space for meaningful discussion that will feed into the greater discussions of true transformation.
Why is it greener on the other side? One overarching reason is the reality of affirmative action, bluntly put it is institutionalised racism. Being a second-class citizen in a foreign country may not be ideal, but being one in your own country is a far bitter pill to swallow.
Many countries accord similar citizenship benefits to contributing foreigners, perhaps not immediately but definitely after a few years. So in the long-run, the knowledge and surety that, at the very least, your offspring will have equal rights and freedom, plays an important role.
Many Malaysians who have left are not first generation Malaysians. Yet, to waste energy and emotion on basic equality rights is tiring, degrading and eats away at self-esteem – so why bother?
In this day and age, merit should not be based on race, religion and family connections. But sadly, it is in many places and such bias grates deeper. So the option of moving to another country, where merit is based on capability, seems to be a much easier and workable environment.
Can a fatter paycheque make up for this? When house prices, university entrance requirements, job designations, promotions, preferential bonds, loan approvals, scholarships, tax rates and the likes are dependent on the colour of your skin and belief system – money can only soothe so much.
Another factor is the quality of the work environment. Is credit and promotion given according to merit, do people carry their weight, are local organisations professional and is intellectual honesty honoured? In many instances the answer is no, so not only are these concerns persuasive in luring talent back but it is also important for retaining them.
Part of earning a decent living is being able to enjoy a decent living. This includes good infrastructure such as public transport, education system and security factors. If the risk of theft, kidnapping and sexual assault is high, why put yourself and your loved ones in harm's way? Can my children walk to school feeling safe, or play in the playground without fear? Is it safe to walk down a street with your handbag without getting robbed?
It does not mean that these things do not happen elsewhere, however, with the rising security concerns due to increasing crime rates, people are more likely to prefer living in a country where the legal and security system will truly make them feel safe and favours the rights of children. No amount of money thrown into perception management can take away the fact that more Malaysians feel unsafe.
Modern nomadic migration can come across as ungratefulness that plagues younger generations. While there is some truth to that, the quality of life plays an important role too.
For local talents, the cost of living on a Malaysian salary can be very trying. In order to minimise travel time and avoid getting stuck in traffic jams, we try to live close to the city. However, paying for a Kuala Lumpur zip code can be too pricey. It would also mean living in a smaller space and not owning land. So we move out into satellite cities but end up spending more time on the road, taking away precious time that can be spent with the family or for recreation, which then affects our quality of life and not to mention our moods.
The list of reasons is far longer than what's been mentioned. It includes exorbitant car prices, rising food cost, political and media freedom, inflated house prices, a weaker ringgit and a growing sense of ethnocentric attitudes.
We can kick up a fuss about patriotism, but it also boils down to a sense of belonging and ownership. Many would love to return if the circumstances improved and these concerns are seriously and meticulously addressed.
There are large Malaysian diasporas in many developed countries and it is growing rapidly – we should be asking why and how to address this. The brain drain and retaining talent is a serious issue that needs real solutions, if not it will continue in the inexorable manner it is today and Malaysia will be at an even greater loss.
Natalie lives in Malaysia but wonders for how long.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
