A question asked often is (usually by me when a job I am doing is going pear shaped due to a rush), where are all the Malaysian mid-range engineers? By mid-range I mean those with about 8 -13 years experience. Are they out there, lurking for the right time to reappear? I hope it isn’t when oil reaches USD 150 / barrel, and pay is given in liquid gold.
My theory is this: I think that when I returned from my studies, engineering was not a favoured career. Everyone wanted to go into finance, then IT, then anything but engineering.
So, let’s do the math. I came back in 1995. So people who entered uni then would leave around 1998-2000. So, they would have 8 years experience.
Allowing for engineers not interested in engineering due to the 1997 financial crisis (engineering projects having been cut back), then engineers would enter uni around 2000, graduate around 2003-5. These would now have 3-5 years experience.
So, us people who entered the engineering field when it was an unglamorous profession… we should be proud. Too bad pride is not a commodity we can sell.
Wata - Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineer 
Most mid range PE left the country to work in Qatar, UAE, Europe, Africa, Australia because pay is better, and they probably have young kids (pre-school age) giving them more mobility.
Jabba left Malaysia to run a salt mine/uranium mine in Africa.
Wata should know how many ex-poyry left due to better money.
By the way, Jabba end up with engineer course due to eliminative selection;
Doctor – scared of blood.
Lawyer – Crime boss don’t like lawyers (they thrive on crime bosses)
Vet – hate animals, unless they are cook/processes/canned
Mech eng – too many guys
Civil/struc eng – can’t stand the sunlight
Electrical eng – only interested in how a stun gun works
I would prefer being a copper, as my dream was to become a corrupted cop. Jabba could have a badge and still be a crime boss. but my fitness was questionable.
Chemical was the only good choice, where there were more girls, and you could be rubbish at your work and nobody knew about it.
I agree with Jabba. The reason why there are no mid-range expereinced M’sian engineers is that they are overseas earning the big bucks. All we have now are those other engineers who look at the oil price and suddenly decide that chemical engineering is their passion.
you know, crime boss never run out of business.
the manager of the oldest profession came before the oldest profession,
I look at the oil prices and think, it would be good if land owners in Malaysia own the material rights as well. Though, I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have bought a patch of sea…