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.From time immemorial, people move from place to place for one reason or another. After the formation of nations, the mobility of educated and highly skilled professionals affects nations. Brain drain means large number of these people emigrate to another nation.

The Government should form a special commission on the movement of educated and highly skilled people to study and monitor their staying, leaving from and returning to the country. This is a step to keeping them in Malaysia. Datuk Seri Abdullah must consider this proposal seriously, so as to keep up with the time. A country that has more talents is certainly better than the one without.

The day before yesterday, Datuk Seri Law complained that one of the problems faced by returning scientists was the delay in obtaining immigration clearance. Datuk Seri Abdullah replied: “That is simple. Why not just inform me? We will put them on the fast track. It is not a problem.”

The Deputy Prime Minister is right in saying that we must resolve to develop the talent practising their craft in the country, including younger scientists and those who have toiled without much recognition or reward in the past.

“Scientific work goes on and on. It is a lifelong career in education and research. There is no such thing as retirement because of age,” he added.

For decades, we have broached the subject of brain drain within and outside Parliament. Large numbers of educated and highly skilled people leave this country to live and work in another one where pay and conditions are better. In the beginning, some ministers and civil servants boomed out big words, saying that those who left were not loyal to the country and that their departure was good riddance.

Now, there are some people saying one thing and meaning another in government departments and universities. They mouth meritocracy and talents and yet they are feudal, mediocre and bloody-minded. They talk nine words at once, but they undermine highly skilled people. Hence, it is not surprising that returning scientists experience the delay in immigration clearance. It is encouraging that Datuk Seri Abdullah makes a point of wanting to overcome the delay. However, the crux of the matter is finding the factors that determine the mobility of highly skilled people, whether brain drain or the other way.

This year, Malaysia spends RM26.3 billion, RM1.5 billion and RM800 million on education, science, ( technology and environment) and human resources respectively, amounting to RM28.6 billion. After spending more than RM28.6 billion, we find that the brain drain is serious. Those who return are few and far between, let alone the arrival of non-Malaysian skilled people.

Because the Government imposes racial quota in education and government departments, therefore Singapore and other countries take fortune at the tide. For years, there has been brain drain to our neighbour. Meanwhile, over 700 private colleges take in more than 200,000 students in Malaysia, thus providing an avenue for our youth.

Although we are not happy with the warmonger, President George Bush, Jr of the United States, we must investigate how that country attracts highly skilled people from all over the world. There are Malaysian talents in the U.S. Many factors lead to this brain drain. One factor is that the US is the world’s biggest economy and it can offer high salaries to people it needs.

After China has opened itself partly, 580,000 top students have furthered their studies overseas, in particular the U.S. Hitherto, only 150,000 have returned.

Clearly, there has always been movement of highly skilled people in and out of a country. If there is brain drain from a particular country, it can scarcely develop. On the other hand, if it can keep its talents and successfully attract its skilled citizens to return as well as foreign talents to come, it will prosper.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw