Ex-Malaysians and their right to speak
By James Chin (The Malaysian Insider)
One of the more interesting letters I have read in recent times was a letter from a Malaysian, George Lee, who has migrated to Australia. In this letter, he basically badmouthed the entire country and waxed lyrical about all the wonderful things about his newly adopted country, Australia.
This sort of letters always attract a lot of comments, some rude, while other readers gave the reasons why they are still in Malaysia, despite being discriminated against as a non-Malay.
The number of Malaysian taking up permanent residence elsewhere is, at best, guesswork since they will not tell the Malaysian government that they have PR overseas.
However, we can make an educated guess. A workshop held a few years ago at a Chinese-based think tank in Kl suggest that since 1970, more than a million Malaysians have moved overseas permanently. More than 80 per cent are non-Malays and, in particular, Chinese.
The reasons are varied but centre around three basic issues.
First, they feel they have no future given the open racial discrimination and pro-Malay policies of the government.
Second; they can earn better money and enjoy a higher quality of life in other countries, especially in Western countries such as US, UK and Australia.
Third, they want their children to have an equal chance when it comes to tertiary education. They feel that with the official and unofficial quota system in Malaysia, their children can never get a place in a local university or any other government-funded institution.
Needless to say, the loss to the nation is tremendous. Those who move overseas are the ones with the talent, capital and skills. This is why they can get PR outside Malaysia.
When this was pointed out to a former deputy PM, he said “good riddance”. Hence, we can take it that the government is not very worried about losing these highly skilled people since they are non-Malays and are not going to support the BN anyway.
A far more interesting question is, do these ex-Malaysians have the right to say things about Malaysia now that they have a comfortable home outside Malaysia? Do they have the right to badmouth us on the NEP, racial politics, religious discrimination, etc, given that they have “escaped” all these problems?
Many of those who commented on George’s letters appeared to think he has lost the right to say things about Malaysia since he did not stay back and “fight” the system. Many would argue that he is a quitter and hence, has given up his right to criticise the system.
There are also those who think he should have the right to criticise, with some readers actually thinking that he should tell the whole world what is really happening in Malaysia.
The whole debate is interesting as this question would never apply to a Malay who has moved overseas. Yes, my friends, there are many professional Malays who have migrated or taken up PR overseas. I have personally met some of these people.
Despite being the “chosen ones” in Malaysia, they have decided to move overseas.
In today’s political climate, the moment you criticise the country from outside Malaysia, there is an unwritten assumption that you must be a non-Malay who is getting back at the country for the “sufferings” under the NEP.
Yet, one can argue that this successful group who managed to migrate overseas suffered the least since they got out. The only “suffering” they endured is the emotional scars of having to move to a new country and not enjoying the extended family network.
My own take on the situation is that an ex-Malaysian has as much right to say things about this country as the any person living in Malaysia.
They may badmouth Malaysia but the very fact they cannot keep their mouth shut shows how deeply they feel for this land in the first place. Many of them still make regular visits to Malaysia, and many refuse to take up foreign citizenship, preferring to retain only PR status in their adopted countries.
What is needed is a rational discussion on what is said rather than blanket condemnation for those who speak from outside the country.
If we are doing the right things in this country, why should we be afraid of those who throw stones at us?
So for those ex-Malaysian living outside the country, please do comment on what is happening to Malaysia. Your insights as someone outside the country may even help us to see what we cannot see from inside the country.
