Government urged to create policies to tackle brain drain

PETALING JAYA: Executive Director of the Centre for Social and Economic Research, Dr Lee Heng Guie, called on the government to implement investment and economic policies that promote the development of enterprises, create jobs for highly skilled workers and raise wages to address the brain drain.

He said the constant brain drain would hinder Malaysia’s progress due to a shortage of talented workers, which would limit economic and industrial development and technological progress.

“The decline in the pool of skilled citizens impacts economic growth, overall productivity and national output by deepening talent shortages, leading to increased wage pressures among existing talent pools.

“The government needs to create a ‘critical mass’ of educated and entrepreneurial individuals by offering equal and fair education and job opportunities based on meritocracy, incentives for start-ups and a better working environment, among others, to encourage the Malaysian diaspora to return home.”

He added that a typical example of reverse brain drain was the internet crisis in India in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Many Indian professionals who migrated to the US in search of better opportunities have returned to India, attracted by the growing technology industry and improving economic conditions.

“The Chinese government has also implemented a series of policies that include creating favorable economic conditions, ensuring political stability and offering tax breaks, research opportunities and significant bonuses to returning citizens.”

Lee said the success of the policy was evidenced by the growing number of professionals, researchers and academics who returned to contribute to the development of China’s economy and technology.

He added that the same strategy could be implemented to address the brain drain problem and encourage Malaysian talent to return.

Sociologist Dr Fatimah Al Zahrah of the Malaysian Social Science Association said there must be some factor pushing Malaysians to leave the country.

“Some who study abroad may end up marrying a local, making it difficult to return home. These highly skilled and valued overseas individuals play a key role in the growth, sustainability and development of their country, while Malaysia loses out and the gap between the nations widens.”

She added that since Malaysia is unable to stop its citizens from migrating, structural and systemic issues need to be addressed to teach and encourage citizens to think beyond their own interests and ensure they are comfortable working in their own homeland.

“For the sake of the future generation, the authorities should think about the long-term effects of brain drain and reduce the disparities within our population and between states.

“Malaysia has developed an impeccable strategy to address brain drain since 2011. However, we need to review and improve it,” she said, adding that while sound policies have been put in place, monitoring and evaluation of their implementation has been poor.

“It’s not just about finances, but also about work-life balance. The possibility of achieving a high quality of life in a country can be a factor that encourages citizens to leave and seek better living conditions.”

She added that it is crucial for Malaysia to think long-term about how to retain and develop local talent, which involves creating an environment that is conducive to skills development and ensuring that talented people are valued and paid competitively.

“We need to develop more talent and create an environment that continually upskills and meaningfully cares for our citizens.”