Malaysia needs to have political change to address brain-drain

On the defensive after failing to achieve much result in enticing overseas talent home home, the Human Resource ministry is at it again. This time it says it will not use money to fight money but offer other incentives to get professionals and skilled workers back.

"We cannot ask companies to increase salaries drastically as pay hike should be in tandem with the growth of our economy," S Subramaniam told reporters on Monday.

Overly simplistic Subramaniam's rationalising may be, but the core of what he says is true. It may be money that initially pulls talented Malaysians away to work in places abroad where they can get much greater exposure to fantastic developments in technology and so forth. But many would have already salted in a good amount of savings, and are quite happy to come home to and enjoy the typical Asian extended family life.

However, the prospect of returning to face a humdrum of restrictions on personal liberties, caps on potential and capability is certainly a great put-off.

Two different worlds and a causeway

If there is any hope to address the brain drain issue, Malaysia has to be honest about the situation affecting the country at the present time. As of 2010, the diaspora of Malaysian talent abroad stands at 1 million. This is no small number, and it is expected to increase in the coming years.

In order to be a progressive and productive nation, Malaysia needs skills. Yet it is this talent that is leaving the country in droves and for reasons including better career prospects, social injustice and of course higher wages.

It is the educated that are leaving Malaysia, and they certainly know what is going in the country. Instead, it is a group that is well versed and fed-up by the decades-old conditions in the Malaysian society. There is love for the country, but many feel that the country has no love for them.

88 per cent of the diaspora in Singapore, according to the World Bank report released this year, consist of Malaysian Chinese. Why is this so? Singapore has absorbed 57 per cent of Malaysia’s overseas citizens, with almost 90 per cent of those crossing the border being ethnic Chinese, the World Bank said. Yes, more than half of the diaspora is just a causeway away from Malaysia.

I don't like to be judged by the colour of my skin, do you?

Surely, there must be more substantial reasoning other than mere better wages offered or better working facilities.

To date, the Human Resources Ministry is looking into more than just issues of wages. It is ironic that the minimum wage policy for Malaysia has yet to see the light of day. Has this idea been shelved? Would not minimum wage attract our youth to work in the local industries since it means they can earn a decent salary?

The ministry has also spoken of other factors, but these factors have so far centred around money and wage levels. The ministry needs to look into other issues that are deeper than mere money matters.

Najib Razak has also pledged to roll back the country’s NEP policies, which are skewed in favor of the Malay and Bumiputera communities. But he also told the Umno assembly last year that the government’s social contract of providing benefits to Bumiputeras cannot be repealed.

And this is the real problem. Race-based policies will never be able to retain talent and as long as a government is bent on favouring one race over another, talent will go where it is appreciated.

No citizen wants to be treated as second-class citizens in the country of their birth.

“(Lack of) Meritocracy and unequal access to scholarships are significant push factors and a deterrent to coming back,” said World Bank senior economist Philip Schellekens. “Non-Bumiputeras are over-represented in the brain drain.”

Nobody will listen

So, Malaysia's BN government may announce as many incentives as they can to get 'returnees' to come home, but once back, will there be enough incentives to make them stay. Or will they get cheesed off by the the racial politicking once again. Handing out sweeteners will never be good as long as the rotting meat is not removed and this is the challenge for the ruling Barisan Nasional. Policy change is never easy for the BN government especially if it undermines coalition boss UMNO.

Policies that divide and direct opportunities only to members of a particular ethnic group have to be dismantled. Not just revamped or amended but to be removed totally. All citizens must be given credit base on merit and not the race of one’s birth. Opportunities are granted to those who have proven their worth, either because they are capable or best suited to the task.

Is the Barisan Nasional government willing to open up the Malaysia to allow every citizen a fighting chance to prove themselves and to reap the monetary and economic benefits?

No doubt BN is good at introducing plans and programs. According to a Bloomberg report, Najib has eased some rules to woo funds, including scrapping a requirement that foreign companies investing in Malaysia and locally listed businesses set aside 30 per cent of their Malaysian equity for indigenous investors. Last year, he unveiled an economic transformation programme under which the government identified US$444 billion (RM1.3 trillion) of projects from mass rail transit to nuclear power that it would promote in the current decade.

All of these new projects require skilled and talented people to manage. Also, promises are never good if they are not implemented. And the BN government is notorious when it comes to non-performing projects.

Only political change can address brain drain

Political change is needed if Malaysia is to see its talents return home. The diaspora left because it could not tolerate the politics of the day. As long as the political will of the government to rid itself of socially unjust policies is weak, talented Malaysians will continue to choose to remain overseas.

In the countries of choice such as Australia, canada, UK, the governments there are always willing to recognize their talents and capabilities based on meritocracy. If Singapore, the current top draw, were to liberalise its authoritarian hand, even more Malaysians would rush southwards.

To stop brain drain, Malaysia must first stop race-based policies and grant everyone equal opportunity to succeed.

- Malaysia Chronicle