Dear Bloggers and Visitors, I was sent this email by a friend of mine, and I think it is very, very meaningful and thought-provoking. Never mind its political incorrectness. For your information, I do not only blog about myself and my life, for it would appear self-centered.
I have been meaning to pen some of my thoughts for some time now, to let
people actually read the views of the typical 'overseas Malaysian' who is
kept away. I realise that my e-mail is rather long, but I do hope that
you
would consider publishing it, and also keep my name private.
I shall start by telling you a little about my background. Mine is a
rather
sad tale -- of a young Malaysian full of hope and patriotic enthusiasm,
which is slowly but surely dissipating.
I am very different from many other non-Bumiputeras as I was given
tremendous opportunities throughout my childhood. Born into a
middle-class
Chinese but English-speaking family, I grew up with all the privileges of
imported books, computers, piano/violin lessons and tuition teachers.
My parents insisted that I should be exposed to a multi-racial education
in
a national school. In my time, my urban national school (a missionary
school) was a truly happy place -- where the Malays, Chinese and Indian
students were roughly equal in proportion. We played and laughed with
each
other and studied the history of the world together during Form 4, with
one
interesting chapter dedicated to Islamic history.
Though 75% of my teachers were Malays I never really noticed. My Malay
teachers were the kindest to me -- teaching me well and offering me every
possible opportunity to develop. I led the district teams in the English
and Bahasa Malaysia debating competitions. I was the only non-Malay
finalist in the Bahasa Malaysian state-level elocution competition. My
Malay teachers encouraged me to transfer to a government residential
school
sekolah berasrama penuh) so as to enable me to maximise my academic potential. I refused because I was happy where I was, so they made me
head
prefect and nominated me as a 'Tokoh Pelajar Kebangsaan'. Till this day I
am absolutely certain it was the kindness of all my Malay teachers which
made me a true Malaysian.
I excelled at school and was offered a Singaporean government scholarship
to study overseas. I turned it down because I wanted to ensure I would
remain a 'true Malaysian' in the eyes of Malaysia. So I accepted a
Malaysian government scholarship to study at Oxford University.
Throughout
my three years as an undergraduate the officers at the MSD looked after
me
very well and were always there to offer support.
I graduated with first class honours and was offered a job with a leading
nvestment bank. The JPA released me from my bond so as to enable me to
develop my potential. I shall always be grateful for that. I worked hard
and rose up the ranks. My employer sent to me to Harvard University for
postgraduate studies and I climbed further up the ladder.
Now I am 31 years old and draw a comfortable monthly salary of US$22,000.
Yet I yearn to return home. I miss my home, my family, my friends, my
Malaysian hawker food and the life in Malaysia. I have been asked many
times by Singaporean government agencies to join them on very lucrative
terms, but I have always refused due to my inherent patriotism.
I really want to return home. I have been told by government-linked
corporations and private companies in Malaysia that, at best, I would
still
have to take a 70% pay cut if I return to Malaysia to work. I am prepared
and willing to accept that. My country has done a lot for me so I should
not complain about money.
However, of late, my idealistic vision of my country has really come
crashing down, harder and faster than ever before.
I read about the fiascos involving non-Bumiputera top scorers who are
denied entry to critical courses at local universities and are offered
forestry and fisheries instead. (My cousin scored 10 A1s for SPM and yet
I read about UMNO Youth attacking the so-called meritocracy system
because
there are less than 60% Malay students in law and pharmacy whilst
conveniently keeping silent about the fact that 90% of overseas
scholarship
recipients are Malays and that Malays form the vast majority in courses
like medicine, accountancy and engineering at local universities.
I read about the Higher Education Minister promising that non-Bumiputera
Malaysians will never, ever step foot into UiTM.
I read about a poor Chinese teacher's daughter with 11 A1s being denied a
scholarship, while I know some Malay friends who scored 7 As and whose
parents are millionaires being given scholarships.
I read about the brilliant Prof. K.S. Jomo who was denied a promotion to
Senior Professor (not even to Head of Department) although he was backed
by
references from three Nobel Prize winners. Of course, his talent is
recognised by a prestigious appointment at the United Nations.
I read about UMNO Youth accusing Chinese schools of being detrimental to
racial integration while demanding that Mara Junior Science Colleges and
other residential schools be reserved for only Malays.
I read about the Malay newspaper editors attacking the private sector for
not appointing enough Malays to senior management level whilst insisting
that the government always ensure that Malays dominate anything
government-related.
I read that at our local universities not a single Vice-Chancellor or
Deputy Vice-Chancellor is non-Malay.
I read that in the government not a single Secretary-General of any
ministry is non-Malay. The same goes for all government agencies like the
police, armed forces, etc.
I read about UMNO screaming for the Malay Agenda while accusing everyone
else of racism for whispering about equality.
I read about a poor Indian lady having to pay full price for a low-cost
house after being dispossessed from a plantation whilst Malay
millionaires
demand their 10% Bumiputera discount when buying RM2 million bungalows in
a
gated community.
I read about my beloved national schools becoming more and more Islamic
by
the day, enforced by overzealous principals.
I read about my Form 4 World History (Sejarah Dunia) syllabus, which now
contains only one chapter of world history, with Islamic history covering
the rest of the book.
As I read all this I tremble with fear. I love my country and long to
return. I am willing to take a 70% pay cut. I am willing to face a
demotion. I honestly want to contribute my expertise in complex financial
services and capital markets. But really, is there a future for me, for
my
children and for their children? I am truly frightened.
I can deal with the lack of democracy, the lack of press freedom, the
ISA,
our inefficient and bureaucratic civil service, our awful manners, and
even
a little corruption. But I cannot deal with racism in my homeland.
I think this is the single biggest factor which is keeping people like me
away. And bear in mind, there are so many of us (researchers, scientists,
bankers, economists, lawyers, academics, etc.). What people read about in
Malaysia (like Dr Terence Gomez) is but the tiniest tip of the iceberg.
You
will be amazed to know about Malaysians denied JPA scholarships (which
would have made them civil servants), took loans to attend Ivy League
universities, but who are later asked to advise our government (on IT,
economics, etc.) at fees running to millions of US dollars. Such
information will never be published because it is politically incorrect.
As a Christian, I pray for God's blessing on this great country of ours.
I
pray that He blesses our leaders with the foresight and humanity to see
that this will not work and cannot continue. I pray they will have the
strength to make our country a home for all Malaysians plus they will
have
mercy on the poor, including the non-Malays. I pray for true racial
harmony
and acceptance (not just tolerance) in Malaysia.
Yours sincerely,
A very frightened Malaysian abroad
*email ends*
people actually read the views of the typical 'overseas Malaysian' who is
kept away. I realise that my e-mail is rather long, but I do hope that
you
would consider publishing it, and also keep my name private.
I shall start by telling you a little about my background. Mine is a
rather
sad tale -- of a young Malaysian full of hope and patriotic enthusiasm,
which is slowly but surely dissipating.
I am very different from many other non-Bumiputeras as I was given
tremendous opportunities throughout my childhood. Born into a
middle-class
Chinese but English-speaking family, I grew up with all the privileges of
imported books, computers, piano/violin lessons and tuition teachers.
My parents insisted that I should be exposed to a multi-racial education
in
a national school. In my time, my urban national school (a missionary
school) was a truly happy place -- where the Malays, Chinese and Indian
students were roughly equal in proportion. We played and laughed with
each
other and studied the history of the world together during Form 4, with
one
interesting chapter dedicated to Islamic history.
Though 75% of my teachers were Malays I never really noticed. My Malay
teachers were the kindest to me -- teaching me well and offering me every
possible opportunity to develop. I led the district teams in the English
and Bahasa Malaysia debating competitions. I was the only non-Malay
finalist in the Bahasa Malaysian state-level elocution competition. My
Malay teachers encouraged me to transfer to a government residential
school
sekolah berasrama penuh) so as to enable me to maximise my academic potential. I refused because I was happy where I was, so they made me
head
prefect and nominated me as a 'Tokoh Pelajar Kebangsaan'. Till this day I
am absolutely certain it was the kindness of all my Malay teachers which
made me a true Malaysian.
I excelled at school and was offered a Singaporean government scholarship
to study overseas. I turned it down because I wanted to ensure I would
remain a 'true Malaysian' in the eyes of Malaysia. So I accepted a
Malaysian government scholarship to study at Oxford University.
Throughout
my three years as an undergraduate the officers at the MSD looked after
me
very well and were always there to offer support.
I graduated with first class honours and was offered a job with a leading
nvestment bank. The JPA released me from my bond so as to enable me to
develop my potential. I shall always be grateful for that. I worked hard
and rose up the ranks. My employer sent to me to Harvard University for
postgraduate studies and I climbed further up the ladder.
Now I am 31 years old and draw a comfortable monthly salary of US$22,000.
Yet I yearn to return home. I miss my home, my family, my friends, my
Malaysian hawker food and the life in Malaysia. I have been asked many
times by Singaporean government agencies to join them on very lucrative
terms, but I have always refused due to my inherent patriotism.
I really want to return home. I have been told by government-linked
corporations and private companies in Malaysia that, at best, I would
still
have to take a 70% pay cut if I return to Malaysia to work. I am prepared
and willing to accept that. My country has done a lot for me so I should
not complain about money.
However, of late, my idealistic vision of my country has really come
crashing down, harder and faster than ever before.
I read about the fiascos involving non-Bumiputera top scorers who are
denied entry to critical courses at local universities and are offered
forestry and fisheries instead. (My cousin scored 10 A1s for SPM and yet
I read about UMNO Youth attacking the so-called meritocracy system
because
there are less than 60% Malay students in law and pharmacy whilst
conveniently keeping silent about the fact that 90% of overseas
scholarship
recipients are Malays and that Malays form the vast majority in courses
like medicine, accountancy and engineering at local universities.
I read about the Higher Education Minister promising that non-Bumiputera
Malaysians will never, ever step foot into UiTM.
I read about a poor Chinese teacher's daughter with 11 A1s being denied a
scholarship, while I know some Malay friends who scored 7 As and whose
parents are millionaires being given scholarships.
I read about the brilliant Prof. K.S. Jomo who was denied a promotion to
Senior Professor (not even to Head of Department) although he was backed
by
references from three Nobel Prize winners. Of course, his talent is
recognised by a prestigious appointment at the United Nations.
I read about UMNO Youth accusing Chinese schools of being detrimental to
racial integration while demanding that Mara Junior Science Colleges and
other residential schools be reserved for only Malays.
I read about the Malay newspaper editors attacking the private sector for
not appointing enough Malays to senior management level whilst insisting
that the government always ensure that Malays dominate anything
government-related.
I read that at our local universities not a single Vice-Chancellor or
Deputy Vice-Chancellor is non-Malay.
I read that in the government not a single Secretary-General of any
ministry is non-Malay. The same goes for all government agencies like the
police, armed forces, etc.
I read about UMNO screaming for the Malay Agenda while accusing everyone
else of racism for whispering about equality.
I read about a poor Indian lady having to pay full price for a low-cost
house after being dispossessed from a plantation whilst Malay
millionaires
demand their 10% Bumiputera discount when buying RM2 million bungalows in
a
gated community.
I read about my beloved national schools becoming more and more Islamic
by
the day, enforced by overzealous principals.
I read about my Form 4 World History (Sejarah Dunia) syllabus, which now
contains only one chapter of world history, with Islamic history covering
the rest of the book.
As I read all this I tremble with fear. I love my country and long to
return. I am willing to take a 70% pay cut. I am willing to face a
demotion. I honestly want to contribute my expertise in complex financial
services and capital markets. But really, is there a future for me, for
my
children and for their children? I am truly frightened.
I can deal with the lack of democracy, the lack of press freedom, the
ISA,
our inefficient and bureaucratic civil service, our awful manners, and
even
a little corruption. But I cannot deal with racism in my homeland.
I think this is the single biggest factor which is keeping people like me
away. And bear in mind, there are so many of us (researchers, scientists,
bankers, economists, lawyers, academics, etc.). What people read about in
Malaysia (like Dr Terence Gomez) is but the tiniest tip of the iceberg.
You
will be amazed to know about Malaysians denied JPA scholarships (which
would have made them civil servants), took loans to attend Ivy League
universities, but who are later asked to advise our government (on IT,
economics, etc.) at fees running to millions of US dollars. Such
information will never be published because it is politically incorrect.
As a Christian, I pray for God's blessing on this great country of ours.
I
pray that He blesses our leaders with the foresight and humanity to see
that this will not work and cannot continue. I pray they will have the
strength to make our country a home for all Malaysians plus they will
have
mercy on the poor, including the non-Malays. I pray for true racial
harmony
and acceptance (not just tolerance) in Malaysia.
Yours sincerely,
A very frightened Malaysian abroad
*email ends*
If we are a democratic country, why are there such things like Bumiputra discounts and privilages when everyone is supposedly equal?
I myself try to be patriotic. But in my view, as the countries foundations weaken, it is no longer sane to live here as a non-Bumiputra. This cannot go on. As centuries grow older, more eyes, minds and hearts are opened. People demand more rights, and are equally aware of it.
As our nation strives to 'berdiri sama tinggi, duduk sama rendah' with other leading nations, the sights to behold increase. But deep in its hearts core lies our faithfulness, gratitude and undying loyalty. Without this, Malaysia's foundations will shake and finally fall. And this nations heart is blackening, it is dying.
Our country is dying. Silently, slowly. Addressing the problem will not solve it. Action will. When will they realise that they are making a hideous mistake? And if they do, will they realise it in time?
What do you think?
