We need to retain experts as well as draw them home

THE Government has persistently tried its best to bring back highly skilled and experienced Malaysian workers abroad through the “Returning Expert Programme” (REP) which was launched many years ago.

But at the same time, it can also consider initiating another sort of programme with the main objective of preventing many current skilled Malaysian workers from going abroad in the first place.

The REP was originally introduced way back in 2001, with the aim of encouraging Malaysians abroad, with expertise in selected priority sectors, to return and work in Malaysia to contribute skill sets and experiences towards the development of the country.

With the inception of the Economic Transformation Programme in October 2010, the programme has evolved and is now under the purview of TalentCorp.

The new proposed initiative could be called the “Retaining Expert Program”, with the aim of retaining as many skilled local workers within the country as possible.

Beyond a doubt, there are currently many highly educated, expe- rienced and hardworking skilled workers within the country, who deserve the same attention that is given to skilled Malaysian workers abroad.

The time has come for our nation to recognise these skilled local workers, who bring much potential to build up our economy and contribute a lot for our own society.

It would be very sad to see all these local skilled workers starting to move away to other country or being lured by jobs in other countries while their expertise and intelligence is badly needed in our own country.

As the country is moving forward to becoming a high-income nation and having so many national ambitions ahead like the National Transformation 2050, the Government needs to seriously study this proposed plan by examining all the contributing factors which drive our local skilled workers to go abroad, and identifying ways and steps to retain them in our country.