Kit Siang urges govt to stem brain drain

 

The Prime Minister's Department has been urged to set up a special unit to stem the "brain drain", especially to Singapore.

In a statement, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said the government must conduct an aggressive policy to create a "brain gain" situation.

"It is time that Malaysia should recognise highly skilled Malaysian talent, especially in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) sectors as a key resource in a knowledge economy which plays a critical role in national economic growth and technological innovation of Malaysia," said Lim.

To support his argument, Lim cited a report by Sin Chew Daily yesterday which claimed that Singapore has had a policy to "grab" around 300 to 400 talents from Chinese independent schools in Malaysia since 2015.

These graduates are then trained in Singapore and later remained to help the country's economy grow.

He also pointed to a Malaysiakini article that cited former University of Malaya's Dean of Medicine Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman claiming that at least 30 of the Universiti Malaya's best medical graduates are poached by Singapore annually.

Each of these graduates, said Adeeba, cost Malaysia about RM1 million to train.

Lim said that for a start, the government should resolve the grievances and complaints of healthcare workers and resolve the problem of the contract doctors.

"Malaysia does not need contract doctors as they should be absorbed into the public health and medical system," said Lim.

Lim was formerly the DAP secretary-general and an 11-term MP. He currently does not hold any public or party office but remains a highly influential figure in the party. - Mkini