I am a Malaysian medical student based in Dublin, Ireland who has been following the developments back home with concern. From my view and personal observations as a student of the health sciences, I would like to bring to attention certain issues relating to Malaysian students overseas.

Indeed, there always has been much furore each year over the number of scholarships which are given out by government agencies most notably Mara and JPA in order for them to pursue their studies overseas, particularly in the area of medicine. I am all for the increase in numbers of scholarships to provide deserving students with such an opportunity, and to increase the number doctors back in Malaysia.

However, what deeply concerns me and, I believe, most taxpayers in this country are the numbers of those who pursue their medical studies overseas, often at a cost in excess of an exorbitant RM1 million per student and then choose to abscond from their 10 year bond in government service. As an example, school fees alone in the institution where I am based is Euro40,000 a year - that's a hefty RM200,000 per year for a five year undergraduate medical course per student, excluding living expenses and other incidentals which amount to at least another RM50,000 per academic year. May I also add that most of the Malaysian students in my course, dare I say 90 percent of my fellow Malaysian classmates, are on government scholarships.

I understand that this issue has been brought up many times in the media, but more often that not those in charge of bringing these people back brush it off as just a 'small number', or even worse claim that stringent measures will be undertaken to prevent this - an unfounded claim, as I see with my own eyes every day.

I am in my clinical years hence my lessons and clinical teachings are based in major teaching hospitals where new junior doctors are primarily employed, and I can tell you that it is not the case. There are many Malaysians who spend their time here on government scholarships, but have yet to return to serve what is (supposedly) legally required of them. Some even go on to set up families here with no intention of serving the nation whom they owe. In fact, if one were to ask them their career plans, these people are brazen enough to tell you that those plans do not include a return to Malaysia.

In my opinion, nothing much has been done to ensure that these absconders make their way back to Malaysia to serve the nation once their course is over. I am sure that, with a bit less of 'can't-care-less' attitude, it is possible to achieve this aim. If the number of such people who run away from their bond in Ireland is this significant, there must be many more absconders working in the United Kingdom which has more medical schools compared to Ireland.

Even worse, is the fact that Mara scholars - many of whom are sent to pursue medicine in the UK and Ireland - are not legally bonded to serve the government as this clause is not stipulated in the contract that they signed when accepting their scholarship offer. Perhaps the public is not aware of this fact, as I have never seen this issue being debated anywhere in the media. And it is a sad fact which I, and many others, feel that is plain unacceptable.

This all deeply concerns me, as I believe that there is no good justification at all for this - seeing as how much money is spent on each student and how badly Malaysia needs more medical professionals. If you tally the amount Malaysia spends each year in order to finance the education, (medical education, no less) of all scholars overseas, this is no measly sum - and Malaysian taxpayers, many of whom cannot even afford such an expensive education on their own children, deserve more than having this obscene amount of money spent on such irresponsible and downright ungrateful individuals.

The way I see it, there is absolutely no compelling reason for a scholar not to go home to serve their part of the deal. Working and pay conditions have recently been revised and improved; most of all, the education they receive has already geared them for a rewarding and personally satisfying career for the rest of their lives, without them having to pay a cent for this privilege. Many of them would not have this golden opportunity to experience studying overseas had they not received such aid from the government. And it's about time they give back.

The shortage of doctors in Malaysia would not be this critical if all government scholars were, by hook or by crook, roped back to serve what is due. Surely this is not a difficult task with efficient record-keeping of all scholars and stringent action on those who break their bond clause - not just lip service or some clause put in print for formality's sake.

The issue of the supply of medical professionals in Malaysia is not just a concern of a few pockets of society; since it relates directly to health services in this country, it concerns everyone. Hence, the public is owed an explanation as to why the problem of non-returning scholars is this rampant, and what solid measures are being taken to reduce this.

I hope that this issue will not be downplayed yet again, or the reporting die off in the media. By solving this problem, there is everything to gain and nothing at all to lose.