Talent Corp chief executive officer Johan Mahmood Merican told The Malaysian Insider recently that higher salaries, better professional opportunities and a comfortable life are the main reasons Malaysian professionals living abroad are reluctant to return to Malaysia.
According to its statistics, Talent Corp managed to bring back 2,500 Malaysians working abroad.
Having successfully brought back only 2500 Malaysians working abroad since its formation in 2011, it can be said that Talent Corp is a failure considering that RM 65 million has been allocated to it as well as the huge number of 1 million Malaysians working overseas.
Are the three reasons mentioned by Johan the main reasons or the only main reasons which have caused Malaysian professionals living overseas to be reluctant to come home?
I believe that there are at least two more key reasons, namely the social justice and Malaysia’s international image.
Malaysia has been suffering from brain drain for many years .The 2011 World Bank report titled “Malaysia Economic Monitor: Brain Drain” identified career prospects, compensation and social justice as three drivers for brain drain.
World Bank senior economist Philip Schellekens had said at the launch of the Report in April 2011 that lack of meritocracy and unequal access to scholarships were significant push factors and a deterrent to coming back.
How much has the government done to address the issue of social injustice?
Since the nation’s 13 the general elections held in May last year, the nation has witnessed many hate incidents and speeches by racial extremists. All these have often put Malaysia in the world media for the wrong reasons. Yet the government has not shown the political will to deal with the extremists.
Additionally, Malaysia‘s international image as a moderate nation has been affected by incidents such as the seizure of Al kitab, the banning of the Allah word and oppression against the Opposition.
Can Johan deny that this is a factor that has affected Talent Corp’s efforts to lure Malaysians back?
Malaysia will have to be able retain our professionals or lure those who are working overseas back if Malaysia wants to become a high income developed nation.
If Talent Corp wants to succeed, it must first be brave to tell the Prime Minister all the key factors which have hampered its mission and efforts.
And if the government is not prepared to address all the key factors, then Talent Corp cannot succeed.