Bravo, Jon, bravo!

I'm commenting this in the hope that they visit your site often and in the hope that they will read this comment.

Brilliant, just absolutely brilliant.

Why the hell would I want to return to a state/country where I'm pushed aside, treated unfairly because of my skin colour? The only reason why I am here is because I don't have a choice. And I know my opportunity is coming soon and I will leave. To a place in which although I'm a foreigner but I'm given equal opportunities regardless of my age, sex and race.

"Why are you contributing your energy and ideas in a foreign country?"
Because I'm appreciated here. Because I'm able to survive comfortably doing what I'm doing. Because I'm having a better quality of life. Because this country although foreign is HOME to me. Need I say more?

"Come back and we have the right platform for your talent to be appreciated."
I highly doubt it. Prove it to me that you're worthy of my time and energy and effort. We've been slighted often enough; we don't need it anymore.

Besides, we've made it all this while on our own without any favours and privileges. I would say that we've made it, despite all circumstances; we've come out stronger and wiser and definitely smarter than those who have been given all the opportunities and freebies of the world.

And, yes, I'm seeing the ugly colours of climbing the corporate ladder. I'm giving myself until the end of this year to see something happening to my career. Otherwise, I'm leaving.

Well... These people sound like freaking communists to me. Who are they to say what you should do with your life? We're designers for gawds sake. And mentioning:

"Why a talented young perakean like you doing in Australia? Why are you contributing your energy and ideas in a foreign country? Come back and we have the right platform for your talent to be appreciated. We are not branding a single product but a state...your home-state."...

blah blah blah blah... why ah? cannot find any in Perak? Sigh... some people are just not considerate of other people's feelings/situations?

To the editor of the magazine... sorry man/woman, look some place else. we have dignity.

Jon, you forgot to mention that it made me cringe and puke my dinner and lunch and breakfast out too when you shared it with me. WAhahahahhaha :)

My reaction wasn't that of gut-wrenching nausea, but rather sadness and incredulity, ESPECIALLY incredulity. I cannot believe that the organization is so ingenuous as to believe that they can tempt bright, young professionals into returning to Perak by offering them absolutely nothing ("five stand alone publications", woo hoo?), or by appealing to state loyalty. It's a poor scheme doomed to failure.

I give them some credit for reaching out, but it looks like they have done no research into why Malaysians are staying away from the country, let alone their dinky hometowns. The only thing they have is this misguided notion that they could somehow tap into a nostalgia for Perak to woo people back. That's it? That's all? For their sake I hope they're simply idealistic, delusional, or brain-damaged, otherwise it's just scary to think that someone could come up with this while stone-cold sober.

Though Jon, to take this further, I think you should reply to the e-mail, find out MORE details so we can all write in to enquire before sending a sharply worded refusal. =P

The best way for Malaysia, not just Perak, to reach out to the Malaysian talent overseas is to take care of the Malaysian talent within the country first.

Thanks for all the comments. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way. I now know how this organisation got my email to contact me, but my points still stand and as TK put it most succinctly, "take care of Malaysian talent within the country first".

There is a 'Malaysian Shame' well ingrained in the society that nothing 'Made in Malaysia' is ever good, due to so many factors. This drives us all to showcase our skills and talents elsewhere where it is appreciated.