3.

An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their
own poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause?
What solutions can you suggest to deal with the situation?

To stay and suffer, or leave and prosper? Such is the tightrope that high-skilled

citizens of this country walk. With the economic turbulence, it is easy to tell which side has

the greener grass. The exodus of proficient human capital lags the country’s progress, but this

can be changed if we address our skewed social system and outdated education structure.

The Malaysian diaspora of skilled talents decelerates the nation’s trajectory towards

joining the league of developed countries. If one is to study the history of major events, it is

inarguable that citizens of proficient talents are the catalyst of change. Without these

advanced skills, national progress will take much slower to achieve. Pursuant to the United

Nations’ 2019 economic data, more than a million Malaysians are working abroad (Razak,

2020). Imagine the progress we would have if one of them – say, Doctor Amalina Bakri –

contributes to Malaysia instead of Britain. It is clear that the growing emigration of

professionals is a step backward for Malaysia.

However, dismantling the country’s bumiputera policy can reduce this defection

issue. Legalized ethnical discrimination is the strongest push factor of the diaspora, with

Chinese Malaysians making up for more than 80% of the dimension (Anon., 2011), by

forcing them to relocate to other countries that would give fair treatment. For example, if

Malaysia were to eliminate the bumiputera system, then we would also be removing the main

reason why other citizens feel unwelcome or marginalized in their own homeland. Therefore,

the abolishment of the institutionalized discrimination will also rule out the major factor in

the ‘brain drain’.

 Furthermore, reforming the education landscape in Malaysia can also decrease the

departure of highly competent individuals. By improving the education standards to be on par

with those of developed countries, it will be unnecessary for Malaysians to travel or stay

overseas to be recognized or valued for their high skills. For example, take Israel. By

boosting information technology education and making it accessible to all strata of citizens,

Israel is fast becoming the Silicon Valley of the Middle East. Not only this enables Israeli

talents to circulate and contribute within the country, but it is also luring professional

migrants [ CITATION Jor12 \l 17417 ]. Thus, increasing education quality is important if

Malaysia is to tackle the diaspora.

In conclusion, the shrinking base of professionals within the country spells doom for

all of us, but rectifying the social injustice and education system may undo the national woe.

No one cares more about Malaysia than Malaysians themselves do, and we can either flee

from it or fix it.

425 words

References
Anon., 2011. Putting the Malaysian diaspora into perspective. [Online]
Available at: https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs181/projects/2010-
11/BrainDrain/Malaysia.html
[Accessed 29 November 2021].

Razak, R., 2020. Analysts: Overseas Malaysians deserves reform of voting system before next GE.
[Online]
Available at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/19/analysts-overseas-
malaysians-deserves-reform-of-voting-system-before-next-g/1904790
[Accessed 2 December 2021].

Weissman, J., 2012. It's Not (Just) the Culture, Stupid: 4 Reasons Why Israel's Economy Is So Strong.
[Online]
Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/its-not-just-the-culture-stupid-
4-reasons-why-israels-economy-is-so-strong/260610/
[Accessed 30 November 2021].
SHAKINAH SHIRIN, SEGI UNIVERSITY
ENGLISH AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.