Unlocking the nation’s ‘brain bank’
By ALLISON LAI
Nation
Monday, 26 Feb 2024

PETALING JAYA: The country should set up a comprehensive registry of Malaysians working abroad, say human resources experts.

They said this can be done by using big data so that the government can formulate strategies for better “brain circulation” to lure our skilled workers into either returning home or contributing to the economy.

National Association of Human Resources Malaysia (Pusma) president Zarina Ismail said Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (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 yesterday.

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

“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, Zarina said Malaysia should focus on strengthening its workforce with better career prospects and benefits.

“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 in a productive way, she added.

National Council of Professors fellow Dr Syed Alwee Alsagoff 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.Syed Alwee said diaspora academicians can help Malaysia revolutionise its education by having world researchers injecting international experience into local universities.

Other ways, he added, 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.

“These ‘academic ambassadors’ could bridge the gap between Malaysia and the world.”The diaspora, he said, can become a bridge to the world, boosting Malaysia’s global standing.

He added that engaging the diaspora is not just about tapping into existing talent but about strengthening connections.“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.

Syed Alwee said the key is engagement and connecting diaspora academicians 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.

“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 added.

By engaging its vast academic diaspora, Syed Alwee said the nation can transform challenges into opportunities, thus moving towards a brighter future.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024...ions-brain-bank

‘Rethink strategy to entice skilled talents to come back’
Nation
Monday, 26 Feb 2024

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia needs to transform the “brain drain” narrative into a positive concept to address the loss of skilled talents, says chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin.

The shift in perspective is necessary so that Malaysians who are seeking employment abroad will return or contribute to the country’s economy.

While Malaysians with tertiary qualifications are globally recognised and sought after, he said Malaysia has experienced a loss of skilled talents, leading to financial ramifications.

He said on average, about 83% of Malaysians employed in Singapore and Brunei are categorised as skilled and semi-skilled.In a statement last week, he cited findings that showed that about 39% of the Malaysian diaspora in Singapore hold skilled jobs while the figure is 68% in Brunei.

Among the Malaysian skilled workers in the island republic, about 38% of them earn an average of S$2,200 (RM7,826) and S$3,599 (RM12,802) monthly.

The highest pay was S$18,000 (RM64,032). In Brunei, about 36.6% of Malaysian skilled workers there earned between B$3,001 (RM10,672) and B$6,000 (RM21,337). The highest salary was B$15,000 (RM53,343).

Mohd Uzir said that “brain circulation” would mean that the Malaysian diaspora would eventually return home after a predetermined period, in which they can contribute their acquired expertise.

“It is essential to view this concept more comprehensively and systematically to leverage the ‘brain circulation’ concept as a strategy to entice the Malaysian diaspora to return or contribute to Malaysia’s economy,” he said in a statement.

The Statistics Department, in collaboration with the Social Security Organisation, recently conducted two studies about the Malaysian diaspora: Malaysian Diaspora in Brunei Darussalam in 2023 and The Social Security Protection of Malaysians Working Abroad: Singapore in 2022.

While the majority of them plan to continue working in those countries, the study also showed that Malaysians employed in Brunei showed a higher inclination to migrate compared to their counterparts who are working in Singapore.

It said key reasons why Malaysians opt to work in Singapore and Brunei include enhanced job prospects, favourable working conditions, attractive salaries and advantageous exchange rates for the Singapore dollar and Brunei dollar.

To see a change, Mohd Uzir said the government must adopt a holistic approach to diaspora management, extending beyond the confines of government ministries and agencies.

“The primary objective of diaspora management should not solely revolve around repatriation. It should also encompass how to harness their expertise for the benefit of the country while ensuring the wellbeing of the diaspora upon their return to Malaysia.”

He said the ability to reshape the Malaysian labour market would not only bolster the economy but also, in the long term, exert an indirect influence on factors such as the ringgit currency rate, wage levels, and advancements in automation and industrial mechanisation.

Executive search and leadership development firm CnetG Asia managing partner Raj Kumar Paramanathan said that Malaysian companies, including multinational corporations, should be encouraged to consider Malaysian professionals living abroad for job openings.

By promoting this initiative through organisations like the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and streamlining processes for returning professionals, he said the rate of skilled workers coming back to Malaysia could increase.

He advocated for a “brain building” strategy that integrates foreign graduates and talent into the Malaysian workforce.

“Creating a corporate culture that promotes collaboration between young Malaysian professionals and their international counterparts enhances organisational dynamics and work ethics.

“Embracing workforce diversity not only enriches corporate environments but also positions Malaysia as an appealing destination for global talent,” he said.

He said many Malaysian professionals abroad have concerns about limited opportunities for career growth or skill development back home compared to their current roles overseas.

“This concern about potential career stagnation or regression upon returning may have deterred them from participating in repatriation programmes.”

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024...ts-to-come-back

So what does work to deal with the brain drain problem Malaysia faces?

Fair points. No disagreement there, but look at the majority of the population and see how realistic it is.

Makes creating a brain bank look more achievable.

Given /k's (and more broadly society) reaction of Indons and Bangla's and Rohingya in Malaysia, I still think a brain bank is more achievable than net migration.

Attracted to greener grass and career growth in S’pore
By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
Nation
Monday, 26 Feb 2024

JOHOR BARU: Career growth and better salaries are enticing Malaysians to seek employment in Singapore.

Amrish Adrin Johan, 35, said he has been working at a fitness centre in Jurong, Singapore, for about a year. He used to be an insurance agent in Malaysia.

Besides job stability, Amrish said there had been career development for him as well.

“Previously, I was a fitness trainer. Now I am part of the operation and customer service staff at the same place,” he said.

Amrish is happy with the working hours, too, saying that he did not have to rush across the Second Link daily to be at his workplace early.

He said the salary was also good as it allowed him to settle his financial commitments and monthly grocery bills.

“I am earning about S$2,100 (RM7,400) per month including overtime. After paying the bills and rent, I am able to save about S$500 (RM1,777),” he added.

The general manager of a construction company in Singapore, James Chow, 47, said he has been working in the island republic for the past 14 years.

The father of two, who earns less than S$10,000 (RM35,500), said it was the financial advantage in Singapore that drove him to work there.

“Besides the better salary, the working environment is different. Everything is done at a fast pace and is systematic. Jobs can be completed on time,” he said.

Asked if he would work in Malaysia in the near future, he said it was difficult for him to find a new job at his age.

Furthermore, he said his financial commitments were a factor why he continued working in Singapore.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Faculty of Management’s Assoc Prof Dr L. Nanthakumar said that Malaysians looking for employment abroad, especially in Singapore, were not only motivated by money but also career growth.

These two reasons led to many Malaysians getting jobs across the Straits of Johor as it could provide them with a good future not only for themselves but their families as well.

“Don’t get them wrong. These Malaysians love our country,” he said, adding, however, that the ringgit slide was among the factors contributing to a continuous brain drain.

“Many of our fellow Malaysians are working at global companies based in Singapore. They are earning good salaries in the Singapore dollar as the exchange rate favours them.

“We have to look at the positive side. These Malaysians are spending their salaries in Johor, which is good for the local economy.”

Nanthakumar said one of the ways for Malaysia to stop the brain drain was through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The SEZ, he said, could help attract international companies to set up their bases in Johor, which could be attractive to Malaysians working in Singapore.

“If the SEZ is able to lure global companies to invest in Johor, then Malaysians in Singapore will want to work here instead as they already have the experience working in an international environment.

“But the government must make sure that the salaries offered to them are not that far from their Singapore salaries, while making it compulsory for these companies to offer jobs to locals instead of foreigners.”

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024...growth-in-spore

Those are not the people that they are looking for.

They are looking for those who still hold Malaysian passports.

Where in the articles did it even suggest that working abroad = expert?