Higher Education Minister Mustapha Mohamed said medical students must have a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, and should return home to serve the country after completing their studies. He also said that despite the lower financial reward in the government service, the students should be proud to serve the government.

I fully agree with the minister but nationalism and patriotism should be cultivated from an early age just like how parents nurture them in their children from birth. The nation, like parents, must provide for its citizens all the necessary education before it can expect undivided patriotism and loyalty. Like a child who refuses to return to his uncaring parents, students, too, do not return to their motherland on completion of their studies if they are unhappy with the way they were treated.

These students do not possess a sense of belonging and the minister must find out why this is so. The root cause of this pathetic state must be identified and addressed accordingly.

These students are unfairly accused of abandoning the country for higher remuneration overseas. I am sure the government cannot be so nave as to seriously believe that money is the only reason for their failure to return to serve the rakyat. Most of them become homesick and it is not an easy decision for them to stay away from their loved ones for long periods just for some monetary gain.

Many of our doctors do not return because of the frustrating and unfair working environment back home. The three most important factors that provide incentive for work are appreciation, reward and opportunities based truly on merit. Public sector doctors are not appreciated and rewarded appropriately for their services to their own country.

It is difficult to comprehend that when foreign countries are willing to reward our doctors with privileges on par with those to their own citizens, why then does our own government refuse to do so. Despite highlighting their plight, the authorities refuse to acknowledge and take the necessary remedial action.

The solution is simple - treat your citizens with care and instill a sense of belonging in them and they will respond with all the nationalism, patriotism and loyalty that you require of them.