Over 11,000 Malaysian professionals keen to return home, says HR Ministry

PETALING JAYA: Some 11,068 Malaysian professionals residing overseas have applied to return to Malaysia, says the Human Resources Ministry.

Minister Steven Sim said 6,969 of the applications have since been approved according to records from TalentCorp’s Returning Expert Programme (REP) between 2011 to May 31 this year.

He said various incentives were also offered to attract high-skilled local talents back to Malaysia, including various tax exemptions.

Sim said the issue of brain drain was gradually evolving towards brain circulation instead, adding that the ministry was finding ways for the Malaysian diaspora to contribute back to Malaysia regardless of where they are based.

To achieve this, Sim said a Malaysia @ Heart initiative or MyHeart is being developed and will be led by TalentCorp.

“MyHeart will facilitate ways for the diaspora to integrate back in Malaysia through various job opportunities, education for their children, opportunities to collaborate with local institutions, facilitating permits for spouses and children alongside updates on the employment market,” he said in a written parliamentary reply on Friday (July 12).

Sim was responding to Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah) who asked about incentives provided by the ministry to attract high-skilled talents back to Malaysia.

On a related matter, Sim said professional expatriates only made up 7.07% of the workforce in Malaysia as of June 19, 2024.

This is based on the number of active passes issued by the Immigration Department’s Expatriate Services Division.

Malaysians meanwhile made up the remainder at 92.93%.

“The current percentage proves that expatriate professionals will not affect employment opportunities for locals,” he said.

This was in response to Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) who asked about the matter.