Saturday 29 December 2007

Migration

Recently, I have been imparted with news that some friend or relatives has planned or already migrated to other country like Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, UK. For sure, I wonder why? Was it because of the politically issue? Or it’s all about the priority issue where aboriginal was given priority in everything? I’m not sure…

Hub and I never think of that issue at all. To us, why would we need to migrate when we are living in the country that free of natural disaster, free from the war and most importantly is, when you have a wonderful family who stay beside you. Until they was a night when we came across to a documentary program on the TV. The life after retired …

To me, I do not have a good thought of migration and it is only apply to people who are unable to find a stable life in the existing country. As for now, I just found it a good way of starting another chapter of life when you needed to. Both hub and I started to have the thought of migration especially whenever we are in the conversation about the age of retiring.

6 comments:

Bob Goh said...

Hi Debbie,

Just thought of visiting your blog and noticed you have a interesting article about migration.

I think I am not qualified to comment whether one should or should not migrate, there is no good or bad. But I like to share with you some of the factors why people are thinking of migration:

1. Malay Dominance - Did you notice that most of companies especially banks and insurance companies that all their management positions are held by Malay? For non-bumi, the chances of climbing up the corporate ladder become slimmer. Unless you run your own business, the employment future doesn’t look very good especially for Y or younger generation.

2. Country Future – Country is now in auto-pilot mode, PM is sleep walking and since his administration few years back, what improvement do you see in our beloved country in the past 3 years?

3. Descendant’s Future – Kid’s education, learning environment are important. You may not want your kid to go through local universities and rendered them unemployable after graduation due to the lousy education and English language problem.

4. Our Future – As you mentioned in your article, retirement is an issue. EPF is never enough for retirement unless you have your own investment and saving. Countries like Australia, UK, NZ, etc have retirement pension, everyone is entitled for it. Although it is not much, it is better than none.

5. Purchasing Power – To illustrate the poor purchasing power in M’sia, let me give you an example. A return air-ticket from KL to NZ cost RM 3500, but an return air-ticket from NZ to KL cost NZ$1900. Although NZ$1900 seems more expensive than RM 3500, but imagine if you earn RM 2000 a month in KL and NZ$ 2000 a month in NZ. Do you see the different? 12 years ago, My first salary was RM 1800, 12 years later, how many graduates can earn RM 1800? A lot of fresh graduates earn way below this figure.

6. Hectic Lifestyle – Staying and working in hustling and bustling city like KL is not fun at all. Traffic congestions, high criminal rate, floods, hectic work demand, etc. I was having high paying job in KL and good life but it was just too hectic for me. This is main reason why we migrated to NZ.

As for us, whether to stay in NZ for good or go back to M’sia one day is still a big question mark. But what is important for us is to get an indefinite NZ PR visa (we have to stay here 2 years to get it), once we got it, we can go back to KL if we want to. The PR visa will be valid for whole life and if one day M’sia is doomed or mismanaged by BN government, we can always fly to NZ anytime we like. As we Chinese always said, 留一条后路给自己!8-D

Bob

mIcHe said...

i am kinda worried about my children education but so far chinese school is still good for primary that is. after that i will homeschool my children for better education. homeschooling normally takes US or NZ syllabus. :)

as for retirement plan, i invest in property and insurance. cannot harap EPF.

purchasing power? earn in USD or AUD online! hahahaha

Debbie Y said...

To Bob - thanks for sharing all the information. I'm impressed and consideration on migration has become my new year resolution. Perhaps for the sake of my children's education, i really need to consider it.

To Michell - Yeah... our EPF scheme really can't depend on.

Anonymous said...

hi debbie
you're not alone and all the stuff mentioned by bob is so so valid! I assume that bob is already in nz. we've thought of it too and am keeping it as an open option....with the way things are being run in our country..there's no telling...

Debbie Y said...

Mom2Ashley - You are right. i shall keep it as an open option.

Anonymous said...

Please tell me anymore you are poor! ok?