I refer to the Malaysiakini report 'Malaysia, we have a problem' .

Like many others, I left Malaysia for similar reasons. A middle-aged Chinese man, I graduated from a Chinese school in Kuala Lumpur and later obtained a masters' degree in Economics from a university in the US. I got married in the States and my only child was born there.

I returned to Malaysia hoping to get a management job, and get it I did. I worked for a bank holding a job position at the middle-management level. Everything seemed to be going my way. However, during my four-year employment in KL, what I heard and read almost everyday from local and international news reports became increasingly discouraging day after day.

Corruption involving high and middle-ranking officials in the government, among top politicians of the BN participating parties and by the police force made me feel sick. There was also the lawlessness among some of the government people associated with killing innocent people - a deed equivalent to execution after a court judgment.

Many low-level people, particularly those ordinary Chinese and Indians in the streets (eg, hawkers/plantation works, etc), may not know of the increasing risk of living in this country - -the short-term risk of running into robbers; burglars, thieves and thugs on any day at any time and anywhere. Plus the long run risk of livelihood deterioration.

These people don't read news day to day and may not be aware of the deteriorating social and economic environment they are in. The children of these ordinary people may even live a future life of being hopeless and poorer. The risk to them becoming more poorer than their parents will rise.

Things are getting more and more expensive, particularly consumer items including food. Regardless how poor you are, nearly all families need a car, be it an old used one or a brand new very expensive one. This in order to live conveniently in major Malaysian cities. But cars are awfully expensive, not to mention petrol or gas.

Many of us may not be able afford an automobile but if we have to get one, you would have to spend almost your entire working life pay-off the loans for a small ordinary family car. Cars are considered consumer goods in Malaysia given the way many Malaysian cities are structured. Living in KL, for example, if you don't have a car you don't have your kaki (feet) so to say.

Having worked and lived in Malaysia for a four full years, I made the hard decision to leave this country to seek an opportunity in the US – an opportunity to live with a freer mind and to get a better economic future for my child.

Though racial discrimination may still exist here in the US and is often hidden, we, regardless of our colour, age, religion, nationality and sex, are all protected by laws and regulations. The opportunity for bright children to get into good colleges is always equal.

I have not been able to make very good money since I came here about 10 years ago, yet with my income, I can afford everything and anything. I had made the right decision to ‘un-root my Malaysian roots.