Patriotism has to nurtured

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the medical students must have a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, and should return home to serve the country after completing their studies. He also said that despite the lower financial reward in the government service, the students should be proud to serve the Government.

I fully agree with the minister but nationalism and patriotism should be cultivated from an early age just like how parents nurture them in their children from birth. The nation, like parents, must provide for her citizens all the necessary needs before it can expect undivided patriotism and loyalty. Like a child who refuses to return to his uncaring parents, students too do not return to their motherland on completion of their studies, as they are unhappy with the way they were treated.

These students do not possess a sense of belonging and the minister must find out this is so. The root cause of this pathetic state must be identified and addressed accordingly.

These students are unfairly accused of abandoning for higher remunerations overseas. I am sure the government cannot be so naïve as to seriously believe money is the only reason for their failure to return to serve the rakyat. Most of them become homesick and it is not an easy decision for them to stay away from their loved ones for long periods just for some monetary gains. In fact it is truly an emotion wrecking experience in most cases in making a decision not to return home.

Most of these doctors do not return because of frustrating and unfair working environment back home. The three most important factors that that provide incentive to work are appreciation, reward and opportunities based on merit. These doctors are not appreciated and rewarded appropriately for their services in their own country.

It is difficult to comprehend why when foreign countries are willing to reward our doctors with privileges equal to their own citizens, why our own government refuses to do so.
The solution is simple, treat your citizens with care and instill a sense of belonging in them, and they will respond with all the nationalism, patriotism and loyalty that you require of them.

Dr.Chris Anthony