People move for various, sometimes, complex reasons. Shaukat Ali's letter is mean-spirited and reflects his ignorance, spiced with malice.

Not all who emigrate do so solely or even predominantly for economic reasons or for '... old-fashioned bottom-line dollars and cents calculations', to quote Shaukat.

Some would have been motivated by altruistic and non-economic reasons. I know of folks who left Malaysia because they wanted their children to have a brighter and better future. Indeed, it is not uncommon for parent to 'trade down" economically by emigrating - often they end up with lesser pay or at a considerable career disadvantage.

It should not surprise Shaukat that political factors and the complex issue of race relations in Malaysia would be one dominant factor why non-Malay Malaysians choose to emigrate. Whether the emigres move to an equitable society or merely exchange one form of racism for another is entirely a separate question all together.

Ultimately, the emigres would have to live with the consequence of their choice - the same way people who choose to remain in Malaysia have to live with their decision of staying. Some may feel the need to justify their decision for leaving and may even proffer less than convincing reasons why they left. Then again, I have heard pretty lame excuses from those who argued against migration.

It is worthwhile reminding that many Indian and Chinese Malaysians would not be where they are today if their forebears had not chosen to emigrate from China or India. They are indebted to their ancestors' courage and tenacity even if they were 'economic migrants by present-day terminology.

Singapore attracts migrants for strategic and economic reasons. Why shouldn't they when other economies are luring and drawing away Singapore's best?

In my opinion, it is bad governance for countries to cling to race-based policies and practices that drive away their talent and human capital. And then, when realising their mistakes, to go around justifying their racist policy or engage in futile and token attempts to recall their overseas talent.

When I was in Manila recently, I was thoroughly enthralled to read that ancient seafarers from the Malay archipelago settled in part of what is now the Makati financial district; predating even the indigenous Filipinos and the Spaniards.

Who knows if we might be looking at a different map of the Philippines today if more of their compatriots or their descendants had followed their brave footsteps then.

There is an ironic twist to Shaukat's ill-conceived sweep that all those who emigrate are essentially selfish individuals who would trade their souls for economic advancement.

My poser to Shaukat is this - do you consider your veiled malice and jealousy a lesser vice than greed or love of money?