PSD, what a blunder?

In the olden days, boys and girls were somehow forced to face the reality of life at very young age. Those born in the 70s, 60s or earlier will tell you how difficult life was then, especially those growing up in poor families from kampong areas where even basic amenities were so lacking.

Even our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir growing up as a kampong boy selling kuih to lessen the burden of his family and most of my friends went straight to help their parents in the paddy fields or vegetable farms right after school. In those days when machinery was so lacking and expensive, the more family members mean more labour and that’s probably why in those days, it was so normal to see big family, mine included as my grand mom gave birth to 8 children.

Because of harsh circumstances, boys and girls became mature faster as they learned to face reality of life early. Nowadays that we are living in a modern world, albeit a materialistic one, children are often spoilt and more so because of living standard has improved significantly and the parents of present day can afford to provide a better living condition including education to their children.

Time may have past but despite of the vast improvement in living conditions, boys and girls of present days can’t avoid facing the hard reality of life when they receive their examination results and have to make important decisions which may affect their entire life. Those student passing their examination with flying colour will naturally hoping for a scholarship to pursue their dreams in the best university oversea but so often, they have to come to the reality of life; the best may not be necessary getting the best.

It is ridiculous to see so many excellent students not getting the PSD scholarships to pursue their dream courses in the best universities locally or oversea, and these are the best of the best talents who are going to gear the country forward for the greater height!!! But very unfortunately, these young talents were taught a hard lesson at such a young age; the best is not necessary getting the best.

The fact is, if the government is not nurturing the best of talents that we have, most likely, some other countries like Singapore will be too happy to do it. It was pointed out by a United Nation report that 57% of the Singapore’s professional talent came from Malaysia, and the government is talking about brain drain, thinking of asking the Malaysian working abroad to come back and serve the country by offering them better incentives and what not?