Yesterday, I've decided to take a solo trip back to Ipoh to visit my grandma and grandpa each from different side of the family. Before heading off to the train station, I had breakfast with my dad. During breakfast, we were talking about the oil and gas industry and how much remuneration they offer for people who are willing to relocate. It was ALOT of money, and I was thinking what I would do after my 2 years as a teacher. Should I stay; earn less, or should I leave; earn more. The conversation drifted to how boring a job an oil and has company has, dealing with things/issues that I'm probably not interested in, and I said "I think my heart lies in the social sector" and my dad replied " In Malaysia, nobody takes care of the social workers. You would give and give and at the end of the day when you need help, nobody helps you. Other countries they acknowledge your contributions." To which I replied "Then we should fight for it!" And my dad said "Malaysia has not even provide us our basic need to food, clothing and shelter; what makes you think Malaysia would protect social needs which is higher on the Maslow's hierarchy of needs? If you want to do social work, get a job overseas where the country protects social rights and need, get a citizenship there and then u can do whatever you want."
I understand where my dad is coming from. Who doesn't want their child to have greener pastures; and who doesn't want to have a better life for themselves too? But to me, why leave the country when your country needs you? Why contribute to other countries when your country needs you? Just as a parent who does not leave their child in difficult times, so we as fellow Malaysians shouldn't leave when Malaysia is having it's difficult times.
Malaysia is already in a shitty place, and if all our local talent were to just leave, what would be left for Malaysia? Running away does not solve the problem, running away makes the problem worst. Going to a new country and getting a citizenship makes life easier for you, but what about the people back home? What about our future generations? And so I urge for all Malaysians to make a deliberate choice to stay, because Malaysia needs you; it needs changes, and with local talent abroad, how can we be the catalyst to change this nation?
