It should be an interesting study on how Singapore has capitalised on the failure of the NEP, and the Malaysia system where we removed all the Sultans powers and replaced them with politicians, who now rule our lives through devious means.

Each year, Singapore attracts hundreds of our best and brightest.

Even my malay friends advise me not to go back Malaysia after completing my PhD here. It is a well-known fact that no matter how hard they strive, they will never be able to go to the top.

This comes from the horse mouth of a group of foreign experts and researchers in my university. Just feel a bit embarrass when they told me this. But have to admit. After all, it is the truth, nothing but the truth.

Meritocracy in Malaysia? We must be in the land of fantasy! With the present socio-political status quo, Vision 2020 is nothing but a mere mirage.

Why is that so? Because it is creating a mediocre-minded culture that drives away excellent-minded non-malays and malays.

Can you work in an environment where merit is not rewarded?

As long as the blatant, shameless policy of rewarding only the mediocre, and denying opportunities to the best, based merely on one race and religion, the obviously myopic leaders of this country are ensuring that this country will go down to the dogs in the not too distant future.

The standard of English language in Malaysia going down to the dogs is one fine example of our leaders myopic policies.

A lot of things change for those who leave. Once you are in Singapore, much pressure is “applied” to keep you there.

The programs in Singapore are structured in such a way to make sure that the “immigrants” would stay after completing their studies. Many take up Singaporean citizenship after many years of agony and contemplation.

This normally happens after one finds his/her spouse. Practical considerations come in; idealism flies away.

These “Malaysians” never forget their Malaysians past. But as the days, weeks, months, years go by, they slowly lose their Malaysians and become one of those floating masses in the global village. (I have met Malaysians of this kind in all sorts of odd places in different parts of the world.)

Make no mistake – however – most of them are very successful.

The malays do not live in this country alone. Malaysia is made up of all the races. Everybody looks the same when they send out the tax forms. In fact, our economy will be doomed if one of the component of our multi-racial society suddenly vanished.

Our overseas brains refuse to come back. Capable brains here not valued and they want to leave. The rotting education system stops producing capable brains. Overseas countries are “fishing” for smart brains worldwide. Added together……….you get the brain drain effect.

Unless there is a structural change in our mindset to set things right, we will continue talking about the same thing for the next 100 years.