Still talking rubbish about luring talented Malaysians back from overseas

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Talented Malaysians overseas likely to thumb their nose at Malaysian Government

Still talking rubbish about luring talented Malaysians back from overseas

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27, 2024: A news report quoted human resources experts Malaysia should set up a comprehensive registry of its citizens working abroad.

They say using big data so that the Government can formulate strategies for better “brain circulation” to lure its skilled workers into either returning home or contributing to Malaysia’s economy.

There are many reasons why it is a waste of time and efforts to try and lure the brains back to Malaysia.

Question 1: Why should they return if they are doing well overseas?

Question 2: Can employers in Malaysia pay them big bucks, equivalent to what they are earning now in a foreign country (including currency exchange)?

Question 3: After being rejected by local universities, these brains were forced to seek tertiary education in foreign countries. So, no matter how hard you try to convince them to return or contribute to the country’s economy, do you blame them for thumbing their nose at you (the Government)?

So, all these talk about luring Malaysian brains back to the country are a waste of time and effort.

The only way to check the brain drain and loss of talent or quality and competent human capital is to tackle the root of the problem.

And that is about fair and equal opportunities in both education and career advancement - and this needs genuine recognition of talent and meritocracy, irrespective of race and religion.

Is it possible for this to happen in Malaysia after Merdeka (Independence) 1957?

Very unlikely with the current government leaders’ mentality who lack the political will to treat everyone as equal Malaysians, irrespective of race and religion.

Wait another 67 years and see if it happens, like in Singapore it has happened.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the issue:

Experts suggest ways to tackle Malaysia’s brain drain woes

Experts suggest using big data so that the government can formulate strategies to lure its skilled workers into contributing to Malaysia’s economy. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

UPDATED

FEB 26, 2024, 07:52 PM

PETALING JAYA - Malaysia should set up a comprehensive registry of its citizens working abroad, say human resources experts.

This can be done by using big data so that the government can formulate strategies for better “brain circulation” to lure its skilled workers into either returning home or contributing to Malaysia’s economy.

National Association of Human Resources Malaysia president Zarina Ismail said Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp), an agency under the Human Resources Ministry, should maintain a database of Malaysian professionals abroad.

“They can collaborate with embassies or high commissions for the most updated information and figures, so that we keep track of how many Malaysians are out there and what their expertise is.

“This should include Malaysians who went abroad for career prospects and who may have not been kept track of before this. TalentCorp and the ministry should do more to help Malaysia turn the brain drain into brain circulation, which is doable,” she said in an interview on Feb 25.

The term “brain circulation” was bandied about in a statement by the Statistics Department last week.

According to the department, the nation must reframe the “brain drain narrative” and transform it into “brain circulation”, in which the Malaysian diaspora will “eventually return to Malaysia after a predetermined period, thereby contributing the valuable expertise and experiences they acquired (overseas) back to the country”.

For the short term, Ms Zarina said Malaysian employers should use expatriates in the country to train locals to be on a par with field experts.

She said: “Make them train our local workforce and utilise their expertise since we have them here now, so that the trained ones can become experts later and train future talent.

“We should also limit service terms for expatriates so that trained successors get an opportunity to perform and have hands-on experience for the job.”

Acknowledging that talent cannot be stopped from looking for better pay and opportunities abroad, Ms Zarina also said Malaysia should focus on strengthening its workforce with better career prospects and benefits.

She said: “We have many people who are willing to work, such as women who want to take up welding jobs. We should identify those who want to work and train them.”

The emphasis should be on how to harness these workers’ capacity and skills productively, she added.

Dr Syed Alwee Alsagoff, a fellow at the National Council of Professors, said Malaysia has a hidden asset in the form of a “brain bank”, consisting of a network of academic professionals abroad to plug the talent gap.

“This ‘brain bank’ represents knowledge, experience and global connections... By engaging this bank effectively, Malaysia can unlock a powerful tool for development and innovation,” he said.

Dr Syed Alwee added that diaspora academics can help Malaysia revolutionise its education by having world researchers inject international experience into local universities.

Other ways, he noted, include modernising research collaboration and innovation in a knowledge-based economy and creating a wellspring of fresh ideas, tackling issues from climate change to healthcare.

He said “these ‘academic ambassadors’ could bridge the gap between Malaysia and the world”, boosting the country’s global standing.

He also said that engaging the diaspora is not just about tapping existing talent, but also about strengthening connections.

Dr Syed Alwee said: “Imagine ongoing collaboration, continued contributions, and even potential future repatriation.

“By fostering these relationships, Malaysia can ensure a continuous flow of knowledge and talent, turning the ‘brain drain’ into a ‘brain gain’.”

He said the key is engagement and connecting diaspora academics with local professionals.

“We should transform isolated experts into a powerful collaborative force. Knowledge-transfer programmes can link international academics with local professionals, sparking innovation and capacity building,” he said, adding that this “brain circulation” fuels the ecosystem further.

“Short-term collaboration, seminars and guest lectureships act as bridges, injecting fresh ideas and perspectives into the local academic scene, keeping it dynamic and responsive.

“Malaysia’s brain drain might hold the key to unlocking its brain bank,” he said.

By engaging its vast academic diaspora, Dr Syed Alwee said the nation can transform challenges into opportunities and move towards a brighter future. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK