Tag: migration

Categories
Economics Society

[2654] 2011 migration report by the Statistics Department

The Department of Statistics has been productive in the past few weeks. Apart from regular monthly statistical releases, the Department has been producing sectoral and yearly reports in relatively large number. One of the latest involves migration report.[1]

There is one surprise from the report that I would want to share. At least, it is surprising to me.

One would expect, economically advanced or rapidly developing states should record net migration. These states should be able to provide opportunities compared to others. The infrastructure and services available should also be better than the rest. I would imagine only states like Selangor or Penang and other states with many large urban areas would record net migration. Just to be clear, I write net migration to mean immigration less emigration.

So, according to the migration report by the Department of Statistics, the states with net migration in 2011, in order from the greatest to the least, were Selangor (17,000 persons), Penang (8,800), Sarawak (5,500) and Kelantan (3,200).

20130130DoSNetMigration

Selangor and Penang are sort of expected. They form the industrial base for the country and there are a lot of jobs available in those states. As for Sarawak, maybe it has to do with Indonesians.

I do not have access to the full report. So, I lack information to comment too much. All I have is a 12-page (more like 6-page because it is a bilingual report) summary. I also am only able to assess 2010 and 2011 data. So, I am unable to see the wider context that a longer time-series data would provide.

Nevertheless, based on the limited information I have, what I find surprising is Kelantan. Here is a state that I find it hard to rationalize why of all states had net migration. One does not think of Kelantan when one thinks of employment opportunities. I suspect the conflict in southern Thailand may have something to do with it.

On the other end of the spectrum, Kuala Lumpur suffered the net emigration but I do not think it is too surprising. Most of the emigrants moved to Selangor. With limited spaces and high cost of living, it is a trend these days to live in new suburban areas close by outside of the capital. And Kuala Lumpur is an enclave of Selangor. So, it is quite possible that the net emigration mostly refers to individuals who moved out of the Kuala Lumpur but still work in or around Kuala Lumpur. So, there is nothing ominous about that.

But what is curious about Selangor is that the wild net migration swing from 2010 and 2011. I cannot explain it too much except that 2011 may see former 2010 emigrants returning to the state. These former emigrants probably did not go to Kuala Lumpur.

For Johor however, it is a different story. The state had the second highest net emigration. With all the developments in Johor, one would expect net migration instead. Nearly 50% of the emigrants from Johor went to Selangor and Malacca combined.

Finally, since on the political front we are busy with the granting of citizenship to aliens in Sabah, here is one last remark. In Sabah, nearly 3.5% of the population are immigrants (I know, someone reading this will exhibit incredulity).

20130130DoSPercMigrantStates

And, aliens in Putrajaya! (But more seriously, migrants refer to those who do not come from the place they live in. Illegal immigrants are probably not counted. Anyway, I am unclear what definition of migrant that the Department uses. Need to do research on that. But the qualification is probably some years or below in a state. I would imagine single digit years.)

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

[1] — [Migration Survey Report 2011. Department of Statistics. January 29 2013]

Categories
Liberty Society

[2439] When it comes, they will run

The return of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China was imminent. After years of a hands-free approach taken by the colonial government, the citizens of Hong Kong were used to a liberal atmosphere. The prospect of a continuous liberal environment after the 1997 handover was unclear however. The uncertainty convinced many to fear the worst. Rather than suffer the uncertainty, they took action and sought refuge elsewhere. They applied for permanent residency and citizenship in other countries to escape the possibility of living in an oppressive society. The PRC, regardless of what it is now with all of its contradictions, was perceived as a repressive and decidedly communist country. The 1989 Tiananmen Square incident was still fresh in everybody’s minds.

Money is not always the only consideration in any decision regarding migration. There are other factors that are not necessarily less important than money. Security is one. Love is two. Freedom has often been cited as a factor. A way of life is another.

The implementation of hudud or the adoption of more comprehensive Islamic laws will affect the way of life in Malaysia.

Proponents of hudud argue that the implementation of such laws will be applicable to Muslims only. They guarantee it.

Neither their argument nor their guarantee are good.

The argument of exclusive application is unlikely to be true. Previous conflicts from child custody to death and burial have proven that even the milder version of Islamic laws as practised in Malaysia impacts non-Muslims. These proponents might have forgotten these episodes. They must be reminded of it because these conflicts do create a fear of creeping Islamization in the hearts of non-Muslims as well as others who care for religious freedom.

These past conflicts can tell us what to expect in the future.

The likelier outcome of the wider implementation of Islamic laws is this: whatever affecting the majority will likely affect the minority. A more comprehensive version will not leave non-Muslims alone, even if the legal rights are discriminated among citizens so strongly.

It is naïve to believe such an incredible guarantee.

The minority will float along with the majority, whether they like it or not, for better or for worse. The wider implementation of Islamic laws will be a change in lifestyle for everybody. It will first affect the lifestyle of Muslims, regardless of their piety. The group will become more conservative, voluntarily or otherwise.

Then through the interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims, the lifestyle of the latter will be affected. The rest will have to respect the new conservativeness.

In the end, whatever is the way of life that prevails will change. Whatever openness and liberalness within the society that exists will gradually vanish to satisfy rising conservativeness. Whatever lifestyle that was will have to give way to the Islamic one, however those in power define the Islamic laws. The outlook of Malaysian society itself will change. None will escape such a wholesome change unless they leave.

There is a point where the religious and non-religious minorities along with Muslims who hold more relaxed religious positions will choose migration over further tolerance of growing Islamization within their society. The potential lifestyle change can be too drastic to stomach. There is a point where enough is enough.

If it comes, there will be those who will walk off to a more open society permanently. They have the means to do so, just like many former citizens of Hong Kong.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved
First published in The Malaysian Insider on October 6 2011.

Categories
Politics & government Society

[2328] An arrogant free riding migrant

There are times when Malaysians living abroad can be arrogant, perceiving too highly of their worth to Malaysia. There are Malaysians abroad who are highly skilled and educated, of course, but not all of those living overseas are. Most are architects, professors, financial wizards, etc. Some are cab drivers, cooks at some fast food place, janitors, etc. Some are old people of no clear expertise.

Somehow, I get the idea that the mainstream narrative is all Malaysians living abroad are highly skilled or educated who expertise are prized.

I want to blame the Malaysians media, printed and online for that. The media or even those offering opinion on how to address the brain drain take some details for granted and tend to highlight successful Malaysians abroad only. That in the end paints the picture that all Malaysians living abroad have highly skilled or educated, who could contribute to the development of Malaysia more than others.

The truth is that not all Malaysians living abroad are highly skilled or educated. Not of all of them are successful either. There are those who can be easily replaced by locals cheaply. Some migrated because of their family connection, not so much of skills and attracting them back may only bring indirect benefits, which in the net might not present a convincing case.

There is nothing wrong with migration. I am not condemning those who migrated for whatever reason. There are a lot of legitimate reasons to migrate out of Malaysia: job opportunity, discrimination, politics, family, etc.

What I have issue with is the arrogance of some of these people who migrated, when the arrogance is clearly unearned. Here is an example.

A prominent Malaysian politician was in Sydney some months ago. He gave a talk. He attracted a large crowd. He is after all a good speaker.

At the end, there was a question and answer session, which too many have the tendency to turn that period into a soapbox session.

An old former Malaysian, now an Australian citizen, a retired teacher, probably in his 60s, came up to offer his opinion. He rambled about how if Malaysia wants him to come home, the people in Malaysia need to change first.

The people in Malaysia need to change, he said. As if he was the top candidate for Talent Corporation, whatever that government-linked entity actually does.

Is he ignorant of the fact that many Malaysians are doing what they can to change the system? There are Malaysians who disagree with the system and have to suffer the system in fact.

What is more angering about the arrogance is that he proudly announced his intention at free riding. He expects others to change the country while he lives his retired life comfortably, while possibly on a relatively generous transfer payment the Australian government provides for pensioners in Australia.

I rolled my eyes.

It is completely understandable that some people have no stomach to participate in change personally. There are always opportunity costs involved, if guts is not an issue. It is also fine if one decides to return to Malaysia if the society changes for the better. A lot of Malaysians would likely do that. I personally have a number of friends with that thinking. I do not blame them and it is only natural. I cannot think of a good reason to chastise them.

But that particular person does not have the moral authority to put it so arrogantly. No one in that situation has. The license to arrogance vanishes immediately as one free rides.

Categories
Personal Politics & government Society

[2171] Of a story of migration

A dear friend was in Sydney recently. For old times’ sake, he called me up and asked if I was free for the day. I said yes. How could I say no? Both of us are Malaysians and both of us attended Michigan. We had some good times together.

We had not met for a long time prior to that meeting in Sydney. The last time we had a meal together was in Singapore, when we visited yet another alumnus of Michigan. That was a good four years ago.

February is a good time to visit the city of Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Apart from the rain, the weather is generally just fantastic. There are tons of activities to do without the need to worry about the presence of morality police. When they are not cracking jokes and become all-sarcastic, which is cute, Sydneysiders will generally leave you alone. To find a close friend visiting Sydney should not be a puzzle.

We had a long chat, reminiscing the days in good old Ann Arbor, our spur-of-the-moment road trip into the heart of South Dakota and our childish arguments. And we updated each other about our mutual close friends. I learnt that one is working in Germany.

Several are living in the United States. Another is just due west in Melbourne.

The conversation went on innocently until I felt that something was amiss. He asked, “How are they toward you?” He was referring to Australians.

The question slightly took me aback. I figured he was concerned with reports of racism in Australia. The country does have issues with racism. It is not as prevalent as in Malaysia but it is a problem nonetheless.

Yet, his tone was one not of interest in current affairs, or a concern for me. It is a tone reserved for the motive of self-interest. I became suspicious of his motive and began to challenge my assumption that he was here for vacation.

“Why are you here, exactly?” Jokingly, I added, “Do you really miss me that much?”

His answered forthrightly. He already had his application for permanent residency approved by the Australian immigration. All he needed was to have his passport stamped at an Australian gate. He needed to do that to activate his permanent resident status. “And here I am.”

I have friends who have decided to live abroad, or who have left Malaysia for good. I have heard and read stories of strangers, Malaysians nonetheless, doing the same. It is not a rare phenomenon but to hear it from him”¦ somehow, his answer surprised me.

My reaction to those who find solutions in migration had been, please, do not go, or if you do go, do come back.

It is almost a plea, because more often than not, those who chose to migrate share my values: liberty and equality. The more Malaysians holding these values leave, the harder will it be to man the dike against the tide of illiberalism, a hodgepodge of racism, religious bigotry and lack of trust in individuals that Malaysian politics is known for.

Under the bright sun, I did not find myself making such plea to him. I myself am unsure what the future holds for me any longer. Such act of convincing appeared futile to me, when I can hardly convince myself of it.

For a short moment, my mind raced to another occasion, where an Australian friend asked what I would do after earning a Master’s degree. I told him what I told so many others, “I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you just stay here? There are so many problems in Malaysia. I can’t find a reason why anybody would want to be there. Even you, as a Malay, get discriminated simply because you refuse to blend in. Besides, the pay here is much better, don’t you think so? What is the PPP per capita for Malaysia? Australia’s is over thirty thousand US dollar.”

At yet another occasion, a Malaysian who has been residing and working in Sydney for some time asked me the same question. I told him that I do not know but I would return to Malaysia.

“Why?”

I said because it is home.

“It is good that you still have the notion of home. As for me, it means nothing anymore.” He said that with incredible nonchalance that I almost took it as an insult. Deep inside of my heart however, I know that home is where liberty is.

My mind returned to the moment. Kids in school uniforms were flowing out of a building. Near the door, there was a banner, suggesting that these kids were there for some sort of recital.

The plaza besides the Town Hall is always buzzed with activities. Just days ago, a group of Iranians were there to remember February 11, the 21st anniversary of the collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty.

The Islamic Republic of Iran rose over the ashes of old Persia soon after that. I am unsure which one of these two is worse but I know for sure that they do not have the same liberty in Iran to hold public gatherings. Or in Malaysia for that matter.

I had to return to the moment.

“Will you apply for citizenship?”

“No,” he said.

“Why not take the extra step and be done with it?” I was the devil’s advocate.

“Malaysia is a good country. Only those who are managing the country are not.”

He did not see me rolled my eyes. I was not dismissing his opinion.

On the contrary, I share his sentiment. All I wanted to do was to let go a silent sigh.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This article was first published in The Malaysian Insider on March 2 2010.