I came across this letter to Malaysiakini:
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Dear Sir/Madam,
I read Ryan Davidson’s letter a few days ago, and immediately told my
wife that it felt like I was looking into a mirror. You see, my family
and I have, like Ryan and his family, decided to leave.
We were never party to the social contract that we are told our
forefathers had entered into, almost 47 years ago. In any event, we
do not like being at the receiving end of liberal interpretation of
the contract and the unjust and unconscionable enforcement of the
liberally construed terms, on so many of us. Certainly, it is my
belief that if I do not take my family out of this country, I will
continue to subject my child, and her children after her, to the
continuing injustice of the contract. I often thought the new
administration under our new Prime Minister presents new hopes for
fairer treatment. Alas, just as the previous PM was an exciting breath
of fresh air some 24 years ago but proved so putrid much later on, I
feel I cannot subject my child and her children after her, to the same
risk that this PM too, may abandon fresh hopes for justice, in
exchange for immediate gains to himself, his family, his supporters
and his race.
I feel especially compelled to write this, after what happened
recently. I had the chance of a quick brush with a young man, who
represents the future of the ruling party. This young man has also
been under the media spotlight recently, albeit more voluntarily this
time around. He was trying to explain what went wrong in respect of
the many who could not be given places to study medicine in local
universities, despite scoring top marks. He thought it had something
to do with the fact that the assessment procedures were totally
academic, and as academic capabilities of students reached a plateau
where many scored top marks, another dimension needs to be introduced,
to further differentiate these talents. This was necessary as there
were simply not enough places for medicine in local universities as
more and more scored top marks. I kept very quiet as he did his quick
discourse. I thought it was a pained argument, as it ignored the
proverbial 600-pound gorilla in the corner. I thought it was painfully
obvious the shortage of places came about principally because there
was a backdoor through which many entered and took up seats. While
many more scored top marks in STPM than before, many continue to gain
entry without having to. Of course, no one asked this bright young man
whether this other dimension for differentiation will apply across the
board. It would have been impolite to point out this very large animal
in the corner and ask, “what about him?”
If a bright, very well educated, articulate young man espoused
thoughts which totally ignored the fundamental injustice of our
system, what future does our country hold? If this is future prime
minister material, then I really feel people like Ryan Davidson and I
are doing the right thing by taking our children out. Bright people
may not be just people. No matter how bright and well educated our
future leaders are, if they choose to continue to hold on to an
obviously unjust system, we cannot subject our children’s future to
these leaders.
My father did not have the opportunity to leave. I now have to pay the
price of starting anew, abandoning secured and well-paid job, so that
my child escapes the injustice. Am I enjoying life here in KL? You
bet. Like Ryan, my wife and I draw incomes for lifestyles too painful
to sacrifice. Yet, if we choose to be concerned only with our own
job-security and comfortable lifestyles, our child may one day be
faced with the decision I now face. What is to say she will also have
the same opportunity to leave for another country? I feel I must leave
now, while the window remains open. Am I running away? You bet.
Cant Keep The Faith Now
“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)
Ante 