KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A young Malaysian activist who said most youths are now
thinking of leaving the country out of frustration with the socio-political
situation over here.
Last month, political observers including former Cabinet
minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said Malays will soon join the Chinese in
emigrating from Malaysia in a bid to escape the growing religious fundamentalism
and 
authoritarianism that leaves little room for free thought and dissent.
authoritarianism that leaves little room for free thought and dissent.
While Malaysia bills itself as a moderate Muslim nation,
recent developments have demonstrated an increasingly conservative and hardline
approach to Islam here that is intolerant of cultures and practices not
sanctioned by religious groups and authorities.
Over the years, Islamic authorities have gradually become
more rigid in their interpretation and application of the Shariah code in
Islam.
However, a social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir(photo) urged migrating youth campaigners not to abandon Malaysia in their
hearts, saying they can pursue their causes virtually even when they are no
longer in the country.
The daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad said she would 
previously have urged aspiring young activists to remain
for their causes, but now understood that their physical presence was no longer
necessary thanks to the advent of the Internet.
previously have urged aspiring young activists to remain
for their causes, but now understood that their physical presence was no longer
necessary thanks to the advent of the Internet.
"Back then... I would have said stay and fight. But
with the technology change, we are more connected.
"So now I would tell the youth, ‘you can go anywhere
you want but stay engaged, stay invested in Malaysia,’" Marina told a
private dialogue session with young activists here.
- Marina had then also said she knew of several Malays who say they do not want to return to their homeland.
- “It’s not for economic reasons, but simply because they feel that the environment here has become so negative and oppressive that it’s impossible to be able to live as peaceful, productive citizens anymore,” Marina told Malay Mail Online then.
- More than two million Malaysians have emigrated since Malaysia Independent.
Last year, a total 308,834 high-skilled Malaysians moved
overseas, with 47.2 per cent going to Singapore, 18.2 per cent to Australia,
12.2 per cent to US and the rest to other countries like UK and Canada.
According to the same report, the number of skilled
Malaysians living abroad rose 300 per cent in the last two decades, with two
out of every 10 Malaysians with tertiary education opting to leave for either
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
countries or
Singapore.
Source:The Malay Mail Online
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