I have read the opinions raised here about emigration. On one hand, you have the narrow-minded who think of emigration as strictly for economic improvement. On the other extreme, some blame the NEP and its racial policies. Others argue it is for emotional, psychological, personal and financial reasons, or a combination of them.

Granted the reasons for emigration are complex and are seldom based on one factor alone. What one must ask whether the NEP and the racial policies of our government are contributing factors to emigration especially among non-bumis.

Certainly these are not contributing factors to bumi-emigrants. If the racial policies are contributing factors to non-bumi emigration, the government would be wise to assess its (the emigration's) impact on the country's economy.

Based on the recent intention of the government to attract Malaysian experts from abroad to return home, it is obvious there has been a brain drain, which has been detrimental to the economy of Malaysia.

I doubt very much if the government can succeed in reversing this trend if they do not remove the policies which caused the emigration in the first place.

Without going over familiar ground of its negative impact on the bumis, the NEP has caused much of today's racial distrust besides dividing the population along racial lines. With religion involved, we now have a 'us versus them' mentality.

In short, we are a divided country living in harmony along racial and religious divides. Is this the multi-racial society we are proud to present to the world?