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Sunday, July 5, 2015

Don’t push Malaysians away

Some leave for personal reasons….others because they sense that the deck is stacked against them
COMMENT
leaving
By Ann Martinez
Years ago I decided to make my home in the United States.
It was not an easy decision. I had to choose between everything I knew and loved and a future with one I had grown to love. As I head out to watch the traditional, celebratory 4th of July fireworks, I find myself mulling the decision I made about 20 or so years ago.
It was a decision I came to reluctantly and with trepidation. I wasn’t sure what would become of me in this new land. Would I ever consider it home? Would I ever be comfortable enough to be myself? How would I survive without my social support system, my siblings and parents?
The truth is, I have not just remained myself. I have become a better version of me. I have grown in confidence over the years because the land I adopted chose to put its confidence and trust in me. I relished the personal freedoms available to me, but did not misuse them. Rather, they instilled a sense of discipline, which has only served me better.
I advanced in my career on the basis of merit. Those I worked for spelt out clear expectations and demanded excellence. I in turn, rose to meet them. Sometimes I chose to slow down and take care of other goals and I was not faulted for those choices.
Living without my support system was more difficult but I reached out and gradually made new connections at work, in my neighborhood and at my church. Slowly but surely, a new support system emerged.
Were there hiccups and setbacks? Of course. Life is never complete without them. Yet I have never felt that the deck was stacked against me.
Some 20 years ago I chose to make my home elsewhere for personal reasons. Personal reasons will always take some Malaysians away, albeit reluctantly. Malaysia is no different from any other country in this regard.
The fear however, is that many more may choose to leave because they don’t have a sense that they can become a better version of themselves.
Government policies, the gradual erosion of personal freedoms, the absence of meritocracy provide less of a reason to stay. In fact, they may result in more and more Malaysians being pushed away because they see the deck as stacked against them!
Ann Martinez is an FMT reader

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