I am writing this in response to Seah Chiang Nee’s “Insight Down South” column published in The Star last Saturday, 23 February 2008 titled “Goodbye and Thank You.”

We Malaysians like to compare our government to that of Singapore’s, which we all think is much better in governing and producing results (which unfortunately is undeniably true). Recently Malaysia’s PM Abdullah was even prompted to say that “They are grapes… and we are (an) apple. How can you compare grapes with an apple? We can’t,” when he told top civil servants not to compare Singapore’s economy with that of Malaysia’s. Certainly such a remark reflects the awareness of many that despite being such a small country, Singapore is doing so much better than the country which dumped it out in 1965.

This would lead some to think that if Malaysia’s government and political system were to be improved significantly to the standards set by Singapore, Malaysians would be a contented lot. After all, with such an efficient and clean government, what is there to complain about? Malaysians would no longer want to look elsewhere to migrate and instead would love to stay here and bask in the glory of this country, right? If everything were to be based on meritocracy, everyone would be happy and contented. No more racial influence in decisions. Then Malaysians would love this country even more. Leaving the country for “greener pastures” would be the last thing on their mind.

Really?

Then how come Singapore is facing an emigration rate which is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis? How come the grandson of Lee Kuan Yew, who is the elder son of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and is studying in the United States, has signaled that he might not return to the ‘little red dot’ south of Malaysia? How come the children of many Singapore Cabinet ministers have decided to stay in UK or US instead of returning to Singapore? As Seah writes, “Years of strong economic growth have failed to stem Singapore’s skilled youths from leaving for a better life abroad, with the number topping 1000 a year.”

Of course, there are reasons given for leaving Singapore. Some of them are high living costs, enhanced career prospects overseas, preference for a more relaxed lifestyle, and even uncertainty about Singapore’s future. Some blame it on Singapore’s authoritarian leadership that punishes citizens who are critical of the government, thus preventing them from speaking out freely. Others feel that foreigners are taking away their jobs and perks, causing the local society to be an amalgamation of foreigners and Singaporeans, with the proportion of the former steadily increasing. Such insecurities lead Singaporeans to look abroad. I have been there in Singapore myself. These sentiments are real and true. (I was a foreigner there as well, haha)

So, as much as I would want Malaysia to raise its standards of governance and thrive economically to the degree of Singapore’s success, I have seen for myself how Singaporeans themselves are leaving or are considering leaving despite living in a country which has become the envy of not just Malaysia but of many nations.

We Malaysians like to complain and complain about many things around us, which is good because it means that we have not lost hope in this country and would like to see things happen the way we think is best. I will definitely continue to grouse and gripe about the inefficiencies that plague this nation.

But look at what is happening now. Even Singapore is facing emigration problems (brain-drain, although it is gaining more net brain power than what they are losing). Malaysia, with all its flaws, is also facing emigration (to a larger degree i suppose).

To put it loosely in Manglish: ‘Good also leave, not good also leave.’

The irony.