PETALING JAYA: Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) has welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment to address the brain drain issue as it would be important for the nation’s economic vision and strategic plans.
Citing a 2021 survey it conducted, TalentCorp revealed that 92% of the Malaysian diaspora expressed a desire to return to their homeland and contribute but lacked a suitable platform to do so.
“Furthermore, 90% of employers surveyed stated that they would like to hire skilled Malaysians based abroad,” it said in a statement.
Based on the feedback, TalentCorp said among the programmes it introduced was the Malaysia@Heart initiative (MyHeart) to provide returning Malaysians with networking opportunities and employment options.
The agency said MyHeart had successfully connected diaspora professionals with academia and talent in Malaysia, fostering high-value collaborations.
“For diaspora members who aspire to return to Malaysia, MyHeart has to date collaborated with over 45 renowned companies, offering potential job opportunities in Malaysia through its Employment Facilitation service.
“These companies include industry leaders such as Petronas, Intel, Bank Negara Malaysia, PwC, KPMG, and many others,” it said.
TalentCorp added that MyHeart also provides education assistance and incentives for returning Malaysians.
Speaking to the Malaysian diaspora in New York last Friday, Anwar said the government was looking into ways to get more skilled Malaysians to return and contribute to the country to address the brain drain issue.
It was previously reported that 1.86 million Malaysians have migrated abroad, higher than the global average.
Moving forward, TalentCorp said it intends to bolster MyHeart with additional facilitative measures but acknowledges the need for a collaborative, whole-of-nation approach to ensure its success.
“This collective effort should encompass key ministries and agencies, industries, employers, academia, and non-governmental organisations, particularly Malaysian associations abroad,” it said.
As such, TalentCorp urged the Malaysian diaspora to actively engage with MyHeart by registering as members of the global community.
“We firmly believe that ‘home is always where the heart is’, and your involvement is pivotal in fostering a strong and vibrant connection with Malaysia,” it added.