PR, dual citizenship to attract talent, urges industry chief

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

Wong charged that up to 40 per cent of school leavers were not “industry ready”. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Malaysia must consider using permanent residency (PR) and dual citizenship as a competitive strategy to attract talent from abroad, while working on retaining local talent from leaving.

Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI) chairman Datuk Wong Siew Hai today pointed out the policy was already being used by Malaysia’s neighbours, including Singapore, Japan and China.

“It should be a strategy that must be implemented promptly,” he told the Invest Malaysia conference in a discussion entitled, “Attracting Private Investment Towards a High Income Economy Based on Talent, Innovation and Creativity.”

He cited examples of engineers from India working in the country for just a few years, before the Immigration Department started questioning why their jobs could not be done by locals.

“I recommend a transparent system, just like every other country, where there is clear criteria on how to become a PR.”

He said the government could set annual quotas or limits — based on sectors — if there were concerns over the displacement of locals.

However, he argued allowing foreign talent in would create more jobs in the long run, and cited the US’ policy of attracting the best and brightest.

At the same time, he said Malaysia needs to address the problem of the brain drain affecting the country.

He pointed out a rigid workplace may not be conducive to the “Generation Y” workers.

“We need to figure out how to retain them instead of letting them go.”

Wong pointed out that many Fortune 500 companies were growing in Malaysia and needed workers.

“Every year there are 500,000 school leavers, but industries are still short (of manpower). Where are these workers?” he asked, before adding that the problem was acute and required a solution urgently.

On the tertiary front, Wong said that up to 40 per cent of local graduates were not “industry ready”.

He proposed the government sets aside up to RM2 billion to help these graduates acquire the necessary skills while also addressing the problem at universities, claiming that such a move would send the right message to investors and help attract more investments.

“Investors will be assured the problem is being addressed.” he concluded.