What happens when all the talented 'nons' leave M'sia?

What happens when all the talented 'nons' leave M'sia?

Mariam Mokhtar
Published: Sep 12, 2025 1:00 PM
Updated: 3:04 PM


COMMENT | Meritocracy is dead. Long live “ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy). Or if that is too harsh, try this alternative - long live mediocrity.

Edward Wong scored a 4.0 CGPA in the STPM examination. His ambition is to be an accountant, and his wish is to go to Universiti Malaya.

When six universities rejected his application, Wong (above) posted his angst on Facebook and of all the political parties, only the president of MCA, Wee Ka Siong, responded.

Did other political parties not see the unfairness of the system? Some may question Wee's motives and claim that his are political. Others wonder why he did nothing when he was in BN to demand an overhaul of the university admission process.

However, it is better late than never that Wee highlights the problem faced by countless thousands of students every year. The university admission system lacks transparency and is mired in controversy.

Brain drain

So, how long will it be before a disillusioned and dejected Wong joins the brain drain?

More importantly, what does Wong's rejection by the universities say about the prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, and his Madani administration?

Two years ago, Anwar bullied a student who dared to ask him about the quota system in education. He belittled and humiliated her in public. The bottom line for him was votes, when he told her that to reform the quota system would not be looked on favourably by the Malay populace.

He was extremely rude when he told the Indian teenager, "If I wanted to satisfy you and say ‘scrap the quota system’, we would lose all elections and you would suffer more in this country run by PAS and Bersatu.”

But Anwar's Islamist policies in school are as bad as having PAS in power.

He added, “Understand that… it is important to understand that. You have many non-Malays here, and there is no quick-fix solution.”

So, it all boils down to votes. Instead of thinking of the country, he was thinking only of his party and himself. Anwar is no reformer. His mindset is still stuck in the Umno-Baru racist mould.

Losing confidence, trust

A few days ago, on Sept 9, in his keynote speech at the Asian Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditors (ACIIA) Conference 2025, Anwar said that Malaysia’s economic growth should be accompanied by good governance and action against leakages and corruption.

He highlighted the important role played by accountants and internal auditors. He said that "in the past, prominent audit or companies or rating agencies were scrutinised because they lacked integrity and were greedy”.

He said that confidence in our institutions was crucial if his ambition of a high-income status and competitive world economy for Malaysia were to be achieved.

He said that "integrity and accountability should be at the core of our work," and he criticised the "excesses among political leaders, civil servants, and auditors".

Anwar's words now haunt him because UM's rejection of the high-achieving Wong, who wants to be an accountant, has made us lose confidence and trust in one of the country's leading universities.

More importantly, we have lost faith in him and his Madani administration.

Money before fairness, equity

Azlinda Azman, the Higher Education Ministry director-general, stressed that the admission process for students to public universities was based on meritocracy. Really?

Money talks. Instead of rewarding hard work, discipline, dedication and sacrifice, UM's less-than-transparent admissions process, in particular its direct intake system, prioritises money before fairness and equity in education.

Successive prime ministers, especially before a general election, will say, "Malaysia is for all Malaysians, not just Malays."

However, this does not translate into action because when it comes to first-class brains, non-Malays are often denied entry into a university of their choice, whereas wealthy foreign students face no obstacles.

Double standards

If education in Malaysia is suffering because of a cut-back in funding, then perhaps Anwar should not be so generous with taxpayers' money and hand it over to the Palestinians.

Shouldn't he look after his own people first? Especially the students and youth, who will eventually take charge of the country.

Nothing is more depressing than to hear the same issues being publicised in the papers every year: "Brilliant top scholar refused entry into prestigious local university."

We then whip ourselves into a mini frenzy, wondering why first-world countries like Singapore poach our best doctors, nurses, engineers and accountants.

Later on, we wonder why the lacklustre TalentCorp is unable to entice successful Malaysian professionals to return home and serve the country.

The answers have always been staring them in their faces, but the ministers and the PM are too dense to acknowledge the fact that we have two standards for student admissions in Malaysia.

Despite trying his best for himself, his family, and his country, Wong's poignant question reflects the sorry state of education in Malaysia.

Wong's story mirrors that of the parable, The Prodigal Son. The obedient, hardworking son who strives, achieves, and slaves for his father and never disobeys him is ignored and neglected. He feels resentful that he is not accepted.

However, the son who is spoiled by his father, who demands his inheritance in advance so that he can enjoy a good life, then squanders everything, yet is embraced and accepted back by the father, with much love.

What will happen to Malaysia if all the talented non-Malays were to leave?

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.

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Mariam asked: "What happens when all the talented 'nons' leave M'sia?"

I know the answer by The Chosen, which is: "Good riddance to bad Type C-I rubbish"