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Set up a special committee to monitor the number of scientists and skilled workers leaving and returning to this country, so that all obstacles are removed. Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the Prime Minister's new incentives to attract brains to return and work in Malaysia. 17.12.2003. | |||||||
| From time immemorial, people move from one country to another. Talents find greener pastures. Skilled people in Malaysia are no exception. The Government policy especially after 1970 did not help. Now, the new Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah reiterates his desire to get more talents back to this country. Announce the number of experts leaving and returning to Malaysia regularly. For several years, the Government has offered incentives such as tax concessions and faster applications for visa and passport to woo scientists and other specialists to return to this country. Because of various factors like bureaucracy and lower pay, not many have taken up the offer. The Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi repeated yesterday that the Government hoped to increase its ratio of researchers and engineers from 15 for every 10,000 workers to 75 for every 10,000 by 2010. "We have to be creators and not just users of science and technology," he added. We do see occasional specialists such as a urologist returning from UK to take up a consultant job in this country. But, the Government has been reluctant to tell us the number of specialists and skilled workers leaving and returning to Malaysia. Abdullah's statement is reasonable but vague. He would need a monitoring mechanism such as a special committee to ascertain the number of specialists leaving and returning (brain drain and gain). He must know the hindrances such as bureaucracy, red-tape, and the attitude of government officers in dealing with these people. We have often spoken of feudalism, mediocrity | |
and bloody-mindedness. This attitude remains. For instance, the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry has a program for research and development on science and technology, spending RM 60 to 70 million a year. This is a paltry sum to plan for the development of biotechnology, information technology, microelectronic, remote sensing and nuclear energy. Just as we require a long-term anti-corruption measures, we also need a long-term policy that can effectively train, keep and attract brains. We don't like some of the things in the United States such as its unilateralism. But, the US has myriad ways of attracting and keeping experts from all over the world. There are tens of thousands of top students from China in the US. How many of them stay on after completing their Ph.Ds (Doctors of Philosophy)? Hitherto, there are not many returning to China. Even if Malaysia wants to keep and attract talents, it would have to encourage its students to do Ph Ds or have further training overseas, in particular in those famous universities. Then, the Prime Minister has to introduce measures to attract these people back to the country. Singapore loses some of its bright people especially to the US. It has been getting talents from ASEAN especially Malaysia and other countries. It offers various types of scholarships including some without strings. It is obtaining more than losing talented people. We hope that Abdullah works out necessary measures including the monitoring mechanism for many years. Then, Malaysia may be able to gain rather than lose talents. Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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