I have been following the exchanges on emigration, and would like to add my two sen worth.

First, I notice that it is assumed that all who emigrate are highly qualified, hard working and are not getting fair treatment here. This is not true. Not all are scientists, brilliant doctors or surgeons.

Many who migrate are also failures as executives and managers and they have decided to be grocers or restaurateurs and because of embarrassment of doing it here, have decided to have their career change abroad. Some who 'emigrate' to Taiwan and Australia are also running away from creditors, as these two countries have no extradition treaty with Malaysia.

Second, it is assumed that all who emigrate are living happily ever after, enjoying the four seasons, eating apples and pies, celebrating Christmas or Thanksgiving, having barbecues in summer etc.

The reality is that life can be hard even in a country which is more advanced than Malaysia. We can change our habits, diets, slang, etc. but we can never change our colour, and for that, many Asians who migrate face outright discrimination.

Thirdly, what has not been said is that many who migrate do come back, full of regrets and empty pockets. They are more broke than before, and do not have a residence as they had sold their property. After investing in businesses and failing, living on the dole is not acceptable to our Asian pride.

Please don't get me wrong, I am all for emigrating particularly for those who genuinely feel that it would really make a difference to them. The only thing that I would like to highlight is that we have to have a balanced view as to what emigrating entails and the consequences which can be totally different from what was originally expected.