Having said that, bus drivers and fast food workers can still make a modest living. Our family delivered pamphlets when we first arrived as additional income, and both of us uni grads....

No 24x7 mamak and maid!! What???!!! No roti canai at 3am? And no maid to cuci tandas and make kopi? How can????

All the best to you and your family. Which part of Australia? Mind to share?

We got heaps of East Malaysian from Sabah & Sarawak. I'm one.
You won't feel alone, it's all well established here.

You're single with less commitment is the easiest to move around. Looking for a job is not the biggest challenge.
The biggest is you yourself how to settle your own mind. Some ppl can't stand the environment and life changes.

For 'some' people try to scares people off to go Australia is becoz they never worked here before. Never try and leave the comfort zone.
Forever they won't know. It's not asking you to sell your butt here. Some ppl will give you negative info and comment. At the end, who's walking till the end? It's you yourself.

Even before i apply PR, so many negative voices saying there's racist, 2nd class, working like bangla. After i get my PR, they'll say you'll be dead in Australia. No job no income. High tax!
Now i worked with my job profession and lived here 2 years. Bought house and cars. Settle down. The people who giving bad comments in the past suddenly say wanna visit me and have holiday in my place.
Soon you'll see these people all of sudden approach you and asking you for favour but i still help them.

Which choice you gonna have between Malaysia & Australia? It's all about where you put your confidence to current government.

You applying PR is based on skills needed. Start gaining local experience from scratch and within 2 years you'll see the difference.
My question is which suit you best? If you think Australia is good for ya, then go ahead. If not, just stay where you are. That's simple.

There's no green or heaven in this world but if you compare current political turmoil back home, which would you choose? Australia with massive and vast land of opportunites? Singapore with high currency but crowded living in pigeon hole? Malaysia living with stress, economy distress and political turmoil? Choice is in your hand

since September 2013

1. The pricing is relative to the labour cost. Also, for new cars, there's fixed price servicing. For cars out of warranty, there's Kmart/Ultratune or the local mechanic. Or simply DIY.
2. We are leaving families, relatives, friends behind physically, but consider u have FB, Skype, Whatsapp to keep in touch. It is $200 to fly back. Compare this to our ancestors, who have left their homeland forever, some never to return.
3. Living expenses: I really dont know why ppl think Msia is cheaper. It's not. EVERYTHING is expensive compared to income earned. A new house in Klang Valley is the same price, unit for unit of currency, as say, Melb or Syd. Food, groceries are exorbitantly expensive, even more so if u want to eat healthy. Healthcare, unless u use the gov hospitals, is astronomically expensive - just ask around - how much for a checkup at the poliklinik,  Pantai/Gleneagles etc. Education - unless u want to leave yr kids in the 'world class' public education system, its a few K in fees every month.

Having worked in the US, Europe and Malaysia, all I can say is it's the same everywhere. I did my MBA at INSEAD and they teach about going for the hidden job market. I worked in NYC and it's still who you know particularly for the top jobs. Don't be naive to think that you can get away from this.

Honest question, what's a realistic expectation? I want to increase my income but maintain or improve my quality of life if I decide to migrate, admittedly both are at comfortable levels now even by aussie standards. However everyone is implying that migrating means I'll have to work odd jobs or entry level jobs which doesn't attract me at all.