First, my salute to malaysiakini and the staff for flying the flag high.

I shook my head repeatedly upon reading the comments by the incoming prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, on why Malaysia fails to entice Malaysians abroad to return home to contribute to nation building.

He said, "That is simple. Why not just inform me? We will put them on the fast track. It's not a problem".

Is it really that simple?

I am a Chinaman Malaysian, no pun intended, and I am proud of it. I have been a faculty member of a national university abroad for the last seven years. While I am not really a target of the government's drive to reverse some brain flow, I cannot tahan but to pen a word or two on that seemingly off-the-cuff statement.

I am kampung boy who grew up amidst paddy fields. Twenty years ago, along with tens of young Malaysians, I was lucky to be hired by a large Singapore multinational firm. However, the oil shock made our stint there short-lived. The company offered us student loans to further our studies.

We have never looked back since. Now, while most of us are in the IT industry, we are also involved in law, grain processing, manufacturing, airlines, journalism, and academics. Similarly, while most are based in US, we are also in UK, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

Now, among us, how many have seriously considered returning to Malaysia to work and settle down? So far, a big, fat zero. And the incoming PM thinks it is a simple issue of processing the transfer itself.

The terse comment in itself speaks volumes of the status quo in Malaysia. It is a classic feudalistic approach to handling things - the godfather way. Why must potential candidates inform the incoming PM, who is also home minister, on such an issue?

Where are the procedures? What about the proper channel? Is he suggesting that with a snap of his fingers, and through his 'graceful' gesture, candidates can bypass procedures and just return home, on lightning speed?

His next curt comment is similarly revealing. He says, "It's not a problem". Yes, snapping his fingers may not be a problem. But underneath all that hoo haa, lies a mountain of it.

I wonder whether our man had thought of the very reasons why people flee the country in the first instance. Least of all, the all-encompassing, racially discriminatory policies that suck the life out of citizens. Sickening politicians. Cruel and oppressive laws. Widespread corruption. Abuse of power. Absence of accountability. The lopsided judiciary. And the police? What a mess!

I also wonder if the PM-to-be realises who his audience is. Malaysian professionals abroad probably worked their butt off so as to reap the present-day fruits of labour. They are highly educated, and are keenly aware of things Malaysiana and her malaise. Many have voted with their feet out of helplessness and/or disgust with the status quo.

Here are two questions for our man. How many Malaysian professionals does he seriously think, would want to forego what they have accumulated abroad, and return to the same environment that drove them out in the first place?

Does he also truly believe that Malaysian professionals abroad, once returned, are convinced that they can contribute to nation building despite the stifling draconian laws that gag reasonable freedom of announcement, expression, and activity?

Yes some, but not many will return.

For most professionals, living abroad has its own ups and downs. But, you get dignity, fair treatment, and respect for your ability. You get a voice, too. And, ears to hear you.

All said, I do not lose hope. Malaysia is a beautiful country with much potential. But talk of nation building should start at the individual level. If you take the oomph and the aaah out of the individual, chances are, no finger-snapping mere politician can lure him/her back to contribute to nation building.

I stand corrected.