Why wealthy Malaysians want a UK education – and what that means for Malaysia

In a country still shaped by its colonial past, the pursuit of a UK education by Malaysia’s elites reveals a stark opportunity gap at home

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Published: 8:00am, 2 Nov 2024Updated: 7:56am, 3 Nov 2024

For Kuala Lumpur property agent David Lau, securing a British education for his children is more than just a status symbol; it’s a passport to a world of opportunity.

In a nation whose modern-day identity continues to be shaped by the echoes of its colonial past, the allure of a degree from a prestigious UK university – and better still, an English accent – lies in its ability to cut through Malaysia’s intricate societal web of class, wealth, status and ethnicity.

“I realised that many of my clients who are very successful studied at only a handful of colleges,” said Lau, citing Sheffield and Nottingham universities, among others.

Disillusioned with Malaysia’s education system, he enrolled his two children in international schools that follow the University of Cambridge’s International General Certificate of Secondary Education syllabus to set them on the path to a British university education.

“Being Chinese, it is difficult to get into Malaysian universities anyway,” Lau said, referring to the racial quotas that favour Malay applicants.

“So why trouble my kids with that and just aspire for more?”

Commuters pass Tower Bridge. Wealthy Malaysians are so enamoured with the British capital that they’ve dubbed the city “Kuala London”. Photo: EPA-EFE