Of coming and going

Having been here only two weeks, I am fortunate to meet up with many Malaysians who have migrated over the past few years. Some have been here long - a full time worker who preached in the church I attended has been here for 40 years; some have been here shorter, from 5 - 6 years to only a year or two.

And when we get together, almost invariably, the topics of discussion focuses on a few things; on Malaysian politics, and on their adopted country. There are many who are most convinced that coming here was the very right thing to do; and they are glad. There are also those who are not so sure. There are also some who have taken a U turn and have gone back to Malaysia, or their home countries. The problem is, of course, we have a selection bias here - we don't get to meet those who have gone back. So those who are here are all the more convinced that they have made the right decision.

The fact is, of course, there is no heaven on earth. There is always the give and take; the advantages and disadvantages, the pros and the cons.

And this just spell out the fact that migration, moving to a new place, does not solve all our problems. We are exchanging one set of problems for another. It is not for me to judge whether it is a right thing or otherwise for those who stay and for those who have, like ourselves, have moved. But I believe, right down underneath, probably almost everyone would agree that moving does not solve all the problems.

What are the problems here? Firstly, apart from cars, things are expensive here. For example, internet connection charges, telephone charges etc are far more expensive here than home. Labour cost is expensive. Secondly, the weather takes some getting use to. Thirdly, the culture takes some getting use to, too. Thirdly, many of us suffer from career downgrading. The lucky ones find job, though not at the level they have had at home. The less lucky ones could be out of work for years. This is above the problems of moving the whole family from one part of the world to another. Fourthly, teenagers grow up differently. Now we can all debate about cultural norms and what is good or better; but every parent wants his or her children to grow up to be useful members of the society, to be happy, to contribute positively to the society and to be a blessing to those around them. Finally, who knows what would happen in future? What I mean is this - no one can predict what would happen to the future of a country. Back in the 1990s, straight after the Tiananmen Square incidents, my mainland Chinese friends here swore that they would never ever return to China. Well, many of them have since returned with the almost miraculous economic growth of the country. Who knows what would happen to Malaysia, and who knows what would happen to the country we are moving to? The first big wave of migration out of Malaysia probably occurred in the early 1970s after the May 13th incidence. The worry was another racial riot. Well, at least after one generation this has not happened. The second wave occurred during the 1980s when Malaysian economy suffered badly. Well, not everyone who came found job here, and I know of people who have to move back, and in fact did better at home. The third wave was probably during the 1990s when PAS looked set to take over the country. PAS has not done that, at least not as yet. So, who can tell what will happen?

The good things? Well, you probably don't need me to tell you this. And, it is not the purpose for me writing this. The purpose is to debunk the myth that getting out solves all our problems.

On the other hand, after meeting those who have come here, I don't see why we should be upset with them - and us included. The biggest issue is probably - and I hope I read this right - that we are not patriotic enough, and that somehow by leaving the country we have betrayed the country, the people and leave others who can't get out to "suffer". But then again, are we not migrants even in Malaysia? Would I blame my grandparents as unpatriotic? Should I return to China to undo their act of betrayal? No, my excuse or reason is that God has put me here in Malaysia. By extension of that belief, I would have to believe that God brought my grandparents to Malaysia to put me here; otherwise I would not end up here. Now if I believe it is God's plan for my grandparents to migrate, what's wrong with it being God's plan for these people - and us - to migrate?

And really, is it really all that bad back home and all that good here? Down underneath it all, we all know that it is not. As I have said before, there are good and there are bad in both.

The reality, the heart of it all, I suspect, is this - that in a globalised world, people have moved away from nationalism to globalism. Nationalism defined the world for the past 200 years. Globalism, for all its good as well as bad and ugly, is what is defining the world today, whether we like it or not. So, to many people, the world is my home. The other reality is that for this generation at least, respect and loyalty is earned. Leaders are not respected simply because they are leaders; they have to earn the respect of their followers; and I suspect this is so because too many leaders have betrayed the trust and respect of their followers in the past. It is the same with countries and governments - patriotism has to be earned, and for the same reasons - too many governments have abused the patriotism of the populace for their own personal gain. If we fail to recognise this, we are deluding ourselves in believing and insisting that the populace would continue to suffer and die for the countries which have thus far betrayed their loyalty and patriotism for so long in the first place.

These are not justifications for us who have left. These are also not pointing fingers. This is what is going on in the heart and mind of many of those who have left one country for another. If we want people to stay back and change the country instead of leaving, we would have to know this and do something about it. Getting angry and calling names are not going to help.