By Dr O

The government, through various bodies such as the Public Service Department (JPA) and Mara, has sent thousands of students abroad over the years for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Millions of ringgit have been spent to pay for their tuition fees as well as monthly living allowances.

These efforts are to equip Malaysia with a highly qualified and competitive workforce that can take the country forward.

However, not all these students come back to serve the nation. Some remain overseas for work to gain more experience before returning. The sad truth is that not everyone comes back after discovering the limited career opportunities available, low pay and working culture in Malaysia.

Some of course are determined to return to Malaysia and repay the community and nation. But many have no idea how hard it will be once they’re back home.

Here’s an example of an engineering student: After four years of staying thousands of kilometres away from his family to realise his dream, he returned to Malaysia full of optimism. Despite his outstanding academic performance, he turned down an offer to pursue a masters programme by his professor at the university, simply because he wanted to fulfil his duties back home and work with his dream company from childhood days.

However, after undergoing an industrial training programme for two years with one of the largest oil and gas companies here, he was left high and dry without a permanent job for almost a year despite being promised one. Was it because of his underperformance or the wrong attitude? No. He was one of the best participants. Sadly, until now, he has not even received a certificate for the so-called industrial training he underwent.

His dreams were shattered and his family began to look down on him. Sadder still was how his self-confidence and determination were crushed.

This story, however, is not about this particular engineering student. It is about the many Malaysian students who study abroad for years, and end up taking on jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied for.

They return home to work at call centres, as Takaful agents, as DeXandra and Shaklee product sellers, or drive their parents’ car as Grab drivers. Others operate home-based tuition centres or simply become housewives doing household chores.

I am not saying it is wrong to take on such jobs to make a living but is this what the country is hoping for? Is this what taxpayers are paying for? I am not completely blaming these students, but I hope and pray for a better future not only for them but also for their growing families.

This is sad. These students were bright individuals once and among the top students in their universities.

It is a big loss to the country when the ones chosen to study overseas using taxpayers’ money, are not hired when they return but are left to take on jobs that had nothing to do with their overseas training.

There are also those who choose to work in a neighbouring country and who, even as fresh graduates earn higher salaries there than our top-grade civil servants here. Why would they want to come back and work here when their workplace is just an hour’s drive from home?

Then there are those who purposely fail their examination papers so they can stay longer and live a better life overseas, not as professionals, but as travel agents, earning money to support themselves after their scholarship payments stop.

The challenge for the new Pakatan Harapan government, especially the ministry of education, is to channel scholarships to those who really have passion, perseverance and determination to succeed and take Malaysia to the next level.

They should make it compulsory for scholarship holders to at least report back to the country after graduation, and ensure that  sufficient job opportunities await them upon their return.

To be honest, I always catch my breath when seeing my juniors with medical school scrolls in their hands, because I worry about the rather toxic working environment here that they will have to deal with later.

A number of my friends, who were top scorers in university, have quit as housemen and medical officers because of this. And, it’s just as scary to see graduation photos of smiling Malaysian students on social media, when I know full well that their seniors, who graduated three or four years earlier, are still struggling to secure a job despite almost reaching their thirties.

Dr O is an FMT reader.

The views expressed by the writer do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.