Talentcorp, the government agency tasked to fight the brain drain happening in the country has, to date, only managed to bring back 2,500 Malaysians under the Return Experts Programme. Some of the reasons cited by Malaysians living abroad on their reluctance in returning to Malaysia include higher salaries, better professional opportunities and a comfortable life. 

The government’s aggressive role in trying to woo Malaysian professionals to return from overseas comes at the back of a World Bank Report in 2011, which revealed that Malaysia was experiencing a huge brain drain to other countries, with almost a million of the country’s professional workforce reported to be working overseas.

And while the move to pursue our local talent to return is a good step, Malaysian professionals who chose to stay back here to make a living feel as if they’re on the short end of a stick. Mounting challenges in the form of escalating cost of living, a spike in crime, the political scenario of the country and a below-par education system, have left many Malaysians weary, tired and fed up. But still they work just as hard, or harder still, to make sure they keep their heads above water.

So, if the logic is to recognise and give perks to Malaysians who worked hard at getting a better quality of life overseas vs Malaysians working hard here to make ends meet despite challenges and minus the perks, should we then migrate or should we stay? Our lines were open.