I left Malaysia in 1983 for Singapore and then Australia, having taught at Universiti Teknologi Mara (ITM then) for many years.

I became disillusioned at direction in which the politicians were taking the nation. We were constantly reminded of race and our lowly status. To date, nothing has changed, and it is probably worse.

Even in the workplace where we were participating in a grand scheme to help bumiputras realise their potential, we were discriminated by new management.

This was not always the case but the second generation of Malay leaders seemed hell bent on focusing on race rather than the nation.

I have met many Malaysians in Australia who are starting all over again and who took on all manner of lowly jobs.

I, too, went back to being a school teacher, having been trained in Brinsford Lodge before taking up law later in life.

I was impressed when, for the first time, I did not have to put down race or religion in any official documents.

I was even more impressed when at a citizenship ceremony, the Lord Mayor, addressing the new Australians said, ‘Please do not give up your cultures because they enriched the nation’.

My family and I have not looked back since our arrival. We are accepted as locals and recognised on merit for what we can contribute rather than the colour of our skin.

We still look back with nostalgia and deep affection for the nation we left behind but unless there are dramatic reforms, we see a grim future.

The NEM promises much but can it deliver?

The writer is retired professor of law, Charles Darwin University, Australia.