Quora Answer: Despite Being the Same Nation around 50 Years Ago, Why is the Average IQ of Malaysians Lower Than Singaporeans?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Despite being the same nation some 50 years ago, why is the average IQ of Malaysia so much lower than that of Singapore, who has taken the first spot in the world rankings?” 

I was not aware that there are some sort of rankings for IQ, let alone that Singapore is top of it.  I am sceptical.  How do you quantify such a thing?  That aside, IQ is nurtured through the education system.  Singaporeans are not inherently smarter than Malaysians.  Singapore has a more cohesive education policy, and spends much more on it than Malaysia does.  You get what you pay for.  That is why the best and brightest in Malaysia study here if they can.  It is not because they have a higher IQ; it is because, like any reasonable person, they want to take advantage of opportunities to better themselves. 

The dire state of Malaysia’s education system is a direct result of their bumiputera policy, which elevates some racial groups at the expense of others.  This has led to various reactions, and one of them is vernacular schools for the Indians and the Chinese.  Another major issue is the madrasah system.  Nobody went to a madrasah and came out smarter, because the system emphasises rote learning, and discourages thinking. 

There are racial quotas in the universities, which do not take the best and brightest.  And due to these same reasons, and political pressures, the courses are dumbed down so bumiputera students, mainly Malay, can pass.  They are not properly equipped to thrive in the real world.  Now, imagine the effects of these policies over several generations, and we can understand how Malaysian has devolved.  There is nothing wrong with the IQ of Malaysians.  Their leaders and the system failed them.