Hantuimc defended himself well and I believe him. At first, I too found his claims of getting a medical degree in a developed world university impossible, but I resisted from writing as I knew it was possible some years ago through a twinning programme via a Kuala Lumpur private university (where I had previously been a guest lecturer) and Dundee.

However, since then that programme period has been lengthened and is now no longer possible. The other historical possibility was London University. When I was a medical student in the UK in the early 70s, several London medical colleges allowed ordinary students through a course of four years and three months, but they soon stopped this as the quality of the doctors produced was dubious.

It is now back to five years with post-A level entry. Getting through fast is not the issue. The real issue is being properly trained to be a lifelong student of the subject and to be sufficiently empowered to shed old information for new.

Hantuimc may well also have been one of the first students of this KL private college turned university as his pseudonym implies. And I guess he decided to be a shrink - which are in very short supply in the UK. Thus, his 'stuff of dreams' is all possible and may not be the 'stuff of fiction' as claimed by another colleague .

Xenophobia (fear of an alien person or group) is inherent in the human race. Sad, but true. It is everywhere but xenophobia is not synonymous with racism. Racism may be one of the outcomes of xenophobia. Racism may occur because society and governance systems are inefficient with dealing with xenophobia.

One way of dealing with xenophobia is openness and, personally, I have never been unable to tackle xenophobia at a personal level. Yes, I have been a victim of racism in Malaysia, UK, Australia, South America, Japan etc but these were spontaneous and unprovoked from someone whom I had not interacted with. It is unpleasant but one has to move on.

I think humans are intrinsically xenophobic but once an alien shows openness and warmth, they respond. But in Malaysia, severe damage has been done by politicians using the colonial tactic of divide and rule.

At present, one would note that this is now not just confined to one group but also involves subgroups within ethnic political parties in the Barisan Nasional itself. This sad state of affairs will never augur well unless restructuring of policies and behaviours urgently take place. Not being an official government adviser, I should not be saying more.

Hantuimc, as a more senior doctor who has been through the type of journey that you are experiencing, I would suggest that you do not put patriotism at the top on your list of life priorities. You are married and will be planning to start a family. Put this and your career at the top of your list.

Your writing implies that you have a religious inkling: again, put God at the top of your priorities. He will open new doors for you and let you serve humankind in your own special way.

Do not feel nostalgic. The world is a global village and technocrats are experts in creating scenarios of make-believe anywhere in the world.

Yes, you too can have the best flavours of Malaysia transported to the UK (it is already there with the Tourism Board shows) minus the unpleasant flavours of Bolehland and the bad side of the Barisan Nasional.

But I guess you are bright enough to choose the best of all worlds. You have competed and succeeded on a level-playing field - why should you seriously want to move onto a very slippery slope now?

May God be with you and do not let a moment of madness hit you to make you change your mind.