Warm, affordable, chillax: How Chinese nationals see Malaysia, and why they don’t regret living here
Just like home: The China lifestyle store KKV takes up four storeys on a prime corner at Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Monday, 02 Sep 2024 7:00 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — Manning a hawker stall in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling here, Liaoning native Jin Fu cooks up her signature zhajiangmian — a noodle dish consisting of thick wheat noodles topped with a fermented soybean-based sauce — for her regulars.
Hailing from north-east China, Jin who came to Malaysia five years ago, said she has no intention of returning to her birth country.
“When I first came to Malaysia, it was at the request of my sister who needed someone to look after her children.
“In between, I started my own food business here. Now that I am here, I do not feel like going back,” the 52-year-old told Malay Mail.
The number of Chinese citizens who have made Malaysia their new home has almost doubled in the last three years, driven largely by an influx of students and new investors.
Jin is among the few who chose to relocate from the middle kingdom prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and said there are several reasons why she and her countrymen chose to make Malaysia their new home.
Monday, 02 Sep 2024 7:00 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — Manning a hawker stall in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling here, Liaoning native Jin Fu cooks up her signature zhajiangmian — a noodle dish consisting of thick wheat noodles topped with a fermented soybean-based sauce — for her regulars.
Hailing from north-east China, Jin who came to Malaysia five years ago, said she has no intention of returning to her birth country.
“When I first came to Malaysia, it was at the request of my sister who needed someone to look after her children.
“In between, I started my own food business here. Now that I am here, I do not feel like going back,” the 52-year-old told Malay Mail.
The number of Chinese citizens who have made Malaysia their new home has almost doubled in the last three years, driven largely by an influx of students and new investors.
Jin is among the few who chose to relocate from the middle kingdom prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and said there are several reasons why she and her countrymen chose to make Malaysia their new home.
Jin Fu, a Liaoning native from China has been in Malaysia since 2019 and now earns a living as a zhajiangmian hawker in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling. — Picture by Kenneth Tee
“Well, one of the main reasons is Malaysia’s warm climate. From where I am from, it is very cold.
“Secondly, life in Malaysia is relatively simple and non-complicated. It is very easy for outsiders to co-exist and our common language is already understood by the locals,” she explained, adding that Malaysia is also peaceful compared to its regional neighbours.
Adding that she has settled in for good, Jin said she and other Liaoning natives have even formed a community to celebrate one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture — the Spring Festival.
“There is no reason for me to go home since both of my parents have passed on. Maybe the occasional visits to see our relatives that is all,” she said.
As China’s economic growth slows and the government imposes stricter business regulations, Chinese citizens are increasingly seeking new opportunities abroad where middle-class families are looking at South-east Asia as a more affordable option and in particular, Malaysia, a long-established home to the Chinese diaspora.
Jin said a lot of youths in China today find it a challenge to continue living in their homeland due to the intense competition and high costs there.
She noted that many middle-class Chinese citizens are seeking greener pastures overseas.
Affordable education
Han Xiaoming from Hebei province said she came to Malaysia with her family after her 15-year-old daughter was enrolled at an international school here about a year ago.
She and her husband run a restaurant serving Hebei home-styled cuisines from a variety of noodle dishes and Chinese snacks at in Kuchai Lama here.
“While my daughter finishes her studies, we opened up a small business here and will probably return to China when she finishes college,” she told Malay Mail.
“Well, one of the main reasons is Malaysia’s warm climate. From where I am from, it is very cold.
“Secondly, life in Malaysia is relatively simple and non-complicated. It is very easy for outsiders to co-exist and our common language is already understood by the locals,” she explained, adding that Malaysia is also peaceful compared to its regional neighbours.
Adding that she has settled in for good, Jin said she and other Liaoning natives have even formed a community to celebrate one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture — the Spring Festival.
“There is no reason for me to go home since both of my parents have passed on. Maybe the occasional visits to see our relatives that is all,” she said.
As China’s economic growth slows and the government imposes stricter business regulations, Chinese citizens are increasingly seeking new opportunities abroad where middle-class families are looking at South-east Asia as a more affordable option and in particular, Malaysia, a long-established home to the Chinese diaspora.
Jin said a lot of youths in China today find it a challenge to continue living in their homeland due to the intense competition and high costs there.
She noted that many middle-class Chinese citizens are seeking greener pastures overseas.
Affordable education
Han Xiaoming from Hebei province said she came to Malaysia with her family after her 15-year-old daughter was enrolled at an international school here about a year ago.
She and her husband run a restaurant serving Hebei home-styled cuisines from a variety of noodle dishes and Chinese snacks at in Kuchai Lama here.
“While my daughter finishes her studies, we opened up a small business here and will probably return to China when she finishes college,” she told Malay Mail.
Han Xiaoming runs this Chinese restaurant with her family at the Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Kenneth Tee
Unlike Jin who came to Malaysia because of the weather, Han said she was only in Malaysia for the sake of her child who has expressed her wish to further her tertiary studies here after graduating.
“Foremost, the prices of enrolment here are reasonable and similar to those of China as compared to Europe or the Americas.
“On the other hand, our lives here are much simpler and our business affords us the lifestyle and education I want to provide for my daughter,” she said.
Han said what she loves most about Malaysia is how vastly different the tertiary education institutions here are from those in China.
“In China for example, of about 10,000 applicants, maybe one tenth is only able to secure admission into their desired universities,” she added.
She believes some Chinese citizens are lured to emigrate here because Malaysia has ample opportunities and Malaysians have a more easygoing approach towards life .
“In China, all you observe around are people; so competitiveness and pressure is tremendous.
“Here, the development opportunities are far greater than in China but for myself it is because of my child’s education, yet there are still some who are here to earn a living as well.
“This is very obvious. Surely if they possessed no high expectations in life, they would not have left their home behind, right?” she said.
‘Heaven for entrepreneurs’
On Xiaohongshu — a Shanghai-based social media and e-commerce platform with over 450 million registered users in countries with sizeable Chinese diaspora populations — one would find numerous postings by Chinese citizens on why Malaysia is a sought-after destination.
A blogger who goes by the name GiGi said Malaysia is a regional “heaven for entrepreneurs” if one is willing to work hard for it.
“A lot of people have asked me whether I regretted coming to Malaysia or if I am wasting my time here.
“I am telling you I am feeling a sense of contentment and I have never regretted coming to Malaysia. I consider Malaysia as my second home,” the 30-year-old Hangzhou native said in one of her vlogs narrating her experience here.
She said that in China, there are many misconceptions that Malaysia is poor or backwards.
But those who have travelled here have found Malaysia attractive, she said, noting that there are many similarities between their cultures and languages.
“This has lowered the degree of adaptability and made their lives easier,” GiGi said.
She added that other reasons include the overt friendliness displayed by Malaysians and the various types of cuisines available.
Recommended reading:
Unlike Jin who came to Malaysia because of the weather, Han said she was only in Malaysia for the sake of her child who has expressed her wish to further her tertiary studies here after graduating.
“Foremost, the prices of enrolment here are reasonable and similar to those of China as compared to Europe or the Americas.
“On the other hand, our lives here are much simpler and our business affords us the lifestyle and education I want to provide for my daughter,” she said.
Han said what she loves most about Malaysia is how vastly different the tertiary education institutions here are from those in China.
“In China for example, of about 10,000 applicants, maybe one tenth is only able to secure admission into their desired universities,” she added.
She believes some Chinese citizens are lured to emigrate here because Malaysia has ample opportunities and Malaysians have a more easygoing approach towards life .
“In China, all you observe around are people; so competitiveness and pressure is tremendous.
“Here, the development opportunities are far greater than in China but for myself it is because of my child’s education, yet there are still some who are here to earn a living as well.
“This is very obvious. Surely if they possessed no high expectations in life, they would not have left their home behind, right?” she said.
‘Heaven for entrepreneurs’
On Xiaohongshu — a Shanghai-based social media and e-commerce platform with over 450 million registered users in countries with sizeable Chinese diaspora populations — one would find numerous postings by Chinese citizens on why Malaysia is a sought-after destination.
A blogger who goes by the name GiGi said Malaysia is a regional “heaven for entrepreneurs” if one is willing to work hard for it.
“A lot of people have asked me whether I regretted coming to Malaysia or if I am wasting my time here.
“I am telling you I am feeling a sense of contentment and I have never regretted coming to Malaysia. I consider Malaysia as my second home,” the 30-year-old Hangzhou native said in one of her vlogs narrating her experience here.
She said that in China, there are many misconceptions that Malaysia is poor or backwards.
But those who have travelled here have found Malaysia attractive, she said, noting that there are many similarities between their cultures and languages.
“This has lowered the degree of adaptability and made their lives easier,” GiGi said.
She added that other reasons include the overt friendliness displayed by Malaysians and the various types of cuisines available.
Recommended reading:
Data from Education Malaysia Global Services show a rapid surge in students from China enrolling in Malaysian universities. — AFP pic
Monday, 02 Sep 2024 7:00 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — Malaysian universities appear to be a favoured destination for Chinese nationals, reflecting a notable surge in applications since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Data from Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) obtained by Malay Mail showed a significant increase in the number of new applications from Chinese nationals from 2020 to the present.
In 2020, Malaysian universities received 8,876 applications from China. This figure nearly doubled in 2021, reaching 19,202 and the upward trajectory persisted into 2023, when 26,627 applications were recorded.
The current year has already seen substantial activity, with 17,355 new applications logged from January to July 2024.
If this trend continues, 2024 is poised to surpass the previous year’s numbers, further solidifying Malaysia’s position as a preferred choice for Chinese nationals seeking higher education here.
Based on this year’s data from January until July, Chinese nationals make up the largest number of applications for tertiary education in Malaysia, outpacing the number of applications from Bangladesh (3,244), Indonesia (3,145), India (1,393), Japan (1,345), and Pakistan (1,178).
The top 10 most sought-after programmes in Malaysia among students from China (from 2020–present):
Monday, 02 Sep 2024 7:00 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — Malaysian universities appear to be a favoured destination for Chinese nationals, reflecting a notable surge in applications since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Data from Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) obtained by Malay Mail showed a significant increase in the number of new applications from Chinese nationals from 2020 to the present.
In 2020, Malaysian universities received 8,876 applications from China. This figure nearly doubled in 2021, reaching 19,202 and the upward trajectory persisted into 2023, when 26,627 applications were recorded.
The current year has already seen substantial activity, with 17,355 new applications logged from January to July 2024.
If this trend continues, 2024 is poised to surpass the previous year’s numbers, further solidifying Malaysia’s position as a preferred choice for Chinese nationals seeking higher education here.
Based on this year’s data from January until July, Chinese nationals make up the largest number of applications for tertiary education in Malaysia, outpacing the number of applications from Bangladesh (3,244), Indonesia (3,145), India (1,393), Japan (1,345), and Pakistan (1,178).
The top 10 most sought-after programmes in Malaysia among students from China (from 2020–present):
- Business and Administration (29,093 applications)
- Teacher Training and Education Sciences (11,532)
- Humanities (6,412)
- General Programmes (6,288)
- Computing (6,080)
- Journalism and Information (4,663)
- Arts (4,538)
- Social and Behavioural Sciences (4,199)
- Engineering and Engineering Trades (3,298)
- Health (1,730)
According to EMGS chief marketing officer Lewis Tang Shyue Song, Malaysia has become an increasingly attractive destination for international students from China seeking quality higher education.
“About 45 per cent of student applications in Malaysia are from China, which underscores the critical importance of the market in our global education strategy.”
He said, EMGS, which is a one-stop centre for international students under the purview of the Higher Education Ministry, has facilitated direct engagements between Malaysian and Chinese universities, streamlined visa processes and showcased Malaysia’s cost-effective multicultural environment with English-medium programmes to boost the number of Chinese nationals students in Malaysia.
How do international students benefit Malaysia?
International students contribute significantly to Malaysia’s economy through educational and living expenditures.
According to unofficial estimations from industry players, these students averagely spend between RM25,000 and RM30,000 annually on tuition fees and RM15,000 to RM18,000 on living expenses.
With an average annual expenditure of RM44,000 per student, the economic contribution of students from China alone — based on the applications received last year — is estimated at over RM1.17 billion.
This substantial spending benefits various sectors, including education, tourism, and retail.
Guangzhou native Katerina Liang finds Malaysia a fascinating country with cultural diversity. — Picture by Raymond Manuel
Why Malaysia?
Thanks to Malaysia’s diversity and foreign-friendly advantages, several factors have made the country an attractive destination for students from China.
University of Malaya (UM) student Katerina Liang, pursuing her post-graduate studies in the English Language, said she finds Malaysia a fascinating country with cultural diversity.
The 24-year-old, who has been here since last year, said she likes the laid-back culture here when compared to her hometown in Guangzhou. For her, the proximity to home and the cost of studying in Malaysia were the main determining factors.
“It only takes four hours for me to get home to visit my family, and I enjoy the weather. The cost of living is similar to my home but relatively cheaper than there,” said Liang.
Liang said the same programme she is studying at UM would cost double in China.
“I’m also planning to continue my post-graduate studies at UM after I finish my Master’s degree programme,” she said.
Why Malaysia?
Thanks to Malaysia’s diversity and foreign-friendly advantages, several factors have made the country an attractive destination for students from China.
University of Malaya (UM) student Katerina Liang, pursuing her post-graduate studies in the English Language, said she finds Malaysia a fascinating country with cultural diversity.
The 24-year-old, who has been here since last year, said she likes the laid-back culture here when compared to her hometown in Guangzhou. For her, the proximity to home and the cost of studying in Malaysia were the main determining factors.
“It only takes four hours for me to get home to visit my family, and I enjoy the weather. The cost of living is similar to my home but relatively cheaper than there,” said Liang.
Liang said the same programme she is studying at UM would cost double in China.
“I’m also planning to continue my post-graduate studies at UM after I finish my Master’s degree programme,” she said.
Arya Ma from Fujian province in China chose Malaysia for her post-graduate studies due to affordable cost of living and education. — Picture by Raymond Manuel
Another Master’s degree student, Arya Ma from Fujian Province, said she chose Malaysia for her post-graduate studies in Engineering and Building Construction from the pool of options that included New Zealand, Hong Kong and Europe.
“The cost of living and education in Malaysia is much more affordable when compared to other countries, hence I chose Malaysia for my further studies.
“I like Malaysia and I’m also learning basic Malay,” Ma added.
Ma, who has been here since last year, said she is also considering staying to further pursue her post-graduate studies.
Another Master’s degree student, Arya Ma from Fujian Province, said she chose Malaysia for her post-graduate studies in Engineering and Building Construction from the pool of options that included New Zealand, Hong Kong and Europe.
“The cost of living and education in Malaysia is much more affordable when compared to other countries, hence I chose Malaysia for my further studies.
“I like Malaysia and I’m also learning basic Malay,” Ma added.
Ma, who has been here since last year, said she is also considering staying to further pursue her post-graduate studies.
Chinese national Lee Jia Yi pursues Master’s degree in Business Development at UM. — Picture by Raymond Manuel
Apart from affordability, the quality of education in Malaysia was a reason why 24-year-old Lee Jia Yi chose UM.
Pursuing her Master’s degree in Business Development, Lee said she enjoys studying in Malaysia, saying: “I like the relaxed atmosphere here.”
Despite having limited English proficiency, Lee said she doesn’t see that as an obstacle as most people here are friendly.
“My lecturers are very nice and friendly,” she said.
Recommended reading:
Apart from affordability, the quality of education in Malaysia was a reason why 24-year-old Lee Jia Yi chose UM.
Pursuing her Master’s degree in Business Development, Lee said she enjoys studying in Malaysia, saying: “I like the relaxed atmosphere here.”
Despite having limited English proficiency, Lee said she doesn’t see that as an obstacle as most people here are friendly.
“My lecturers are very nice and friendly,” she said.
Recommended reading:
Warm, affordable, chillax: How Chinese nationals see Malaysia, and why they don’t regret living here
Of course lah...
ReplyDeleteMalaysia , for all its flawed democracy, flawed society, is 500% better , more livable than the autocracy People's Republic of China. All the shiny light-peed high speed trains don't impress me.
There is another country,, very much closer to China , Taiwan, that is far better than the PRC, but China wants to strangle it
Wakakakaka…
DeleteMfer, do u know how many million of Taiwanese, both 台毒 & 红粉，living & working in China?
For a diehard anmoksusai, NOTHING beats western demoNcracy - no matter how rodden & decaying the system is!