Facilitating Long Distance Relationship between Malaysia Grandparent and Grandchildren Living in the UK through Computer Mediated Communication

This article is a research done by Nazean Jomhari and Sri Hastuti Kurniawan from the University of Manchester, UK with regards to long distance relationship between grandparents and grandchildren of Malaysia in particular. It was found that research about grandparents-grandchildren is yet to be explored in this part of the world. I believe grandparents-grandchildren relationship are different based on the cultures and customs practiced by each continental or even among countries. Moreover, if we are talking about relationship through computer mediated communication which refers to the internet technology that are being used in Malaysia for example, we are still left far behind as compared to the usage in Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and Japan for example.

Statistics show that Malaysian students studying overseas have declined tremendously especially in UK & Eire as well as Australia in 2002. However, the it was believed that the number will increase due the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) new mission to ensure at least 75% of the lecturers in the public institutes of higher education posses the Doctor of Philosophy qualification and its equivalent and 30% of the lecturers in the polytechnics and community colleges posses the Masters’ Degree and PhD and their equivalent.

This article is focusing on how Malaysian students living in the UK maintained relationship with their grandparents back in Malaysia especially through internet like internet relay chatting (IRC) or even video conferencing. I personally believe that though modern technologies allow long distance relationship between grandparents and grandchildren to become closer but as it is now, the technology gap between the two generations are still big. The older generation are still comfortable using telephone to communicate with their grandchildren abroad. However, I do not see this thing will continue in the near future. This is because communication between grandparents and grandchildren through e-mails has been accepted positively and widely by Malaysians. As such, I foresee the grandparent in Malaysia and grandchildren in the UK relationship through computer mediated communication will definitely takes place very soon.