The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Posted: 23 Mar 2013 05:10 PM PDT
Here is the story of one returnee. Philip Anthony was based in the US for 20 years working in technology development, before participating in TalentCorp's Returning Expert Programme. The timing was just right: His children were in college, and his wife and he wanted to be with their families. It was time to reconnect. They have been home for almost a year now, and have not looked back since. The transition was made even easier when the company he worked for asked him to open a South-East Asian hub. Rofin-Baasel, which specialises in laser technology, wanted to expand into the region. Philip contacted TalentCorp, and the rest is history. He started out with Rofin upon graduation in the UK, before moving to the US when the industry waned in Europe. When he thought of coming back to Malaysia, the company asked whether he would be keen to start Rofin up in the region. "It was a new experience for the company. The technology was already in South-east Asia, but it was bought from the US, Europe or multinationals that purchased it already. Going direct to the consumer was a new ballgame." Once he started thinking of coming back, he approached TalentCorp and asked about the incentives they offered for Malaysians like him. Because of his experience with laser technology, TalentCorp considered him an expert. "I haven't exercised any of the incentives yet... that's not the reason why I came back."
He has kept abreast of all things political when he was abroad, and was aware of the changes. "Malaysians are more aware that they now have a choice. That some of the less than pleasant or fair ways of doing things (policies) ― there are alternatives. And this has brought some positive changes. "I don't sense that there is much of a change in inter-racial integration. It is particularly unfortunate that Malaysians continue to be insular. This nonsense of maintaining vernacular schools ― I don't get it! We're Malaysians! I find it divisive. "I do have two pet peeves and they are litter and corruption. I've visited more congested and populated cities like Jakarta and Bangkok, and they're supposed to be poorer than us (Malaysia) but they are clean! Bangsar, which is supposed to be upper-middle class, has stinking rubbish at all corners. I've even witnessed how our natural spots are also littered with plastic bags. What is wrong with Malaysians?" He has not witnessed corruption first hand, though. He has heard from friends and colleagues, and "corruption steals from people. It has to be stopped." Though his children consider Ann Arbor, Michigan to be their true home, Philip Anthony is happy to be back. |
| Bum knee? PT may save you from the knife Posted: 23 Mar 2013 04:37 PM PDT
In the study, half of 351 participants aged over 45 suffering with meniscus tears or osteoarthritis were randomly selected to undergo knee arthroscopy with the other half getting several weeks of physical therapy. After six and 12 months, the knee function of participants was assessed and showed similar levels of improvement, according to findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The lead author of the research, Jeffrey Katz, Professor of Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard University, said the study suggested there was "no single 'best' treatment." "Since both the patients who received physical therapy and those who received surgery had similar and considerable improvements in function and pain, our research shows ... there is no single 'best' treatment," Katz said. "Patients who wish to avoid surgery can be reassured that physical therapy is a reasonable option, although they should recognize that not everyone will improve with physical therapy alone." He noted that one third of patients who received physical therapy ultimately elected to have surgery, often because their conditions had not improved with therapy alone. More than 450,000 arthroscopies are performed each year in the United States, commonly for treating meniscus tears. The cost of the operation is around US$4,500 (RM14,000) compared to around US$2,000 for a course of physical therapy. — AFP/Relaxnews |
KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 ― All of us know of at least one friend who has decided to leave Malaysia and make a life somewhere else. But what about those who have decided to return?
Socially and on a personal level, coming home has been a positive experience for Philip (picture). He has caught up with relatives and old schoolfriends but he is not blind to his country's faults.
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Features To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan