Tapping the Malaysian diaspora

COMMENT | Malaysians striking out for the ‘West’ commonly cite these reasons for leaving: lack of career prospects, declining standards of education, prolonged bumiputera privileges and rising Islamic extremism.

The argument goes that as long as the racist politics and institutionalised discrimination continue, as Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong explained, Malaysians will continue to leave, despite Talent Corp’s initiatives to retain our domestic talent.

Talent Corp publishes an annual list of critical occupations and sought-after skills aimed at the diaspora. It has approved more than 5,000 Returning Expert applicants since the Najib administration started the corporation in 2011.

A majority of the experts returned to work in the oil, gas and energy sectors, financial services, communication and infrastructure and healthcare.

However, Malaysians who have taken up citizenship in the receiving countries do not qualify for the Returning Expert Programme.

It is hard to gauge precisely from available reports how effective Talent Corp and the public sectors have been in leveraging the skills and knowledge of the diaspora and those who have returned.

Meanwhile, the likelihood of skilled labour emigrating will continue to trend upwards, in spite of the change of government, which is seemingly morphing into an old Umno, stoking the bumiputera agenda...