KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) — By attracting high-value investments, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) is seeking to create a work environment ecosystem that is exciting, to lure local talent overseas back to the country.
Apart from higher salary, these younger talent are also attracted to working in a more challenging environment, said Mida’s Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Noharuddin Nordin.
Speaking to Bernama in Bangkok recently, he said while money continued to be a factor in these Generation Y talent going overseas, they were also looking for that “excitement”.
“They want to be in an environment where there’s a lot of innovation, creativity, with state-of-the-art technology being developed,” he added.
Noharuddin, who was met on the sidelines of the 12th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) in Bangkok, was addressing the issue of the brain drain in Malaysia, and the promotion agency’s mechanism in tackling some of the concerns.
“We are now approaching our investment promotions using this ecosystem approach, while being more selective in bringing in the high value added, high knowledge content activities, to the country.
“Hopefully, by doing this, it will create that exciting work environment ecosystem in Malaysia, and encourage the young to return home,” he said.
On the issue of higher salaries, he said the government’s introduction of a minimum wage was part of efforts towards raising the salary structure.
Although companies have to pay their workers more, the cost will be offset by increasing productivity, and eventually, this will benefit Malaysia’s goal towards becoming a high-income nation by 2020.
“The “Balik Kampung” concept is part of the culture, and most of us would like to be close to our parents and families.
“While there is an attraction in receiving a higher salary working abroad, if Malaysians can get a decent income here, their choice will perhaps be to remain in the country,” Noharuddin said.
He said as Malaysia country approached the 2015 deadline towards the Asean Economic Community (AEC), these concerns need to be addressed as the movement of people and talent will be freer after its realisation.
According to the World Bank Malaysian Economic Monitor (WBMEM) April 2011 report, the estimated Malaysian diaspora overseas stood at a million.
It said Singapore alone absorbed 57 per cent of this number, with most of the remainder residing in Australia, Brunei, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Apart from higher salary, these younger talent are also attracted to working in a more challenging environment, said Mida’s Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Noharuddin Nordin.
Speaking to Bernama in Bangkok recently, he said while money continued to be a factor in these Generation Y talent going overseas, they were also looking for that “excitement”.
“They want to be in an environment where there’s a lot of innovation, creativity, with state-of-the-art technology being developed,” he added.
Noharuddin, who was met on the sidelines of the 12th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) in Bangkok, was addressing the issue of the brain drain in Malaysia, and the promotion agency’s mechanism in tackling some of the concerns.
“We are now approaching our investment promotions using this ecosystem approach, while being more selective in bringing in the high value added, high knowledge content activities, to the country.
“Hopefully, by doing this, it will create that exciting work environment ecosystem in Malaysia, and encourage the young to return home,” he said.
On the issue of higher salaries, he said the government’s introduction of a minimum wage was part of efforts towards raising the salary structure.
Although companies have to pay their workers more, the cost will be offset by increasing productivity, and eventually, this will benefit Malaysia’s goal towards becoming a high-income nation by 2020.
“The “Balik Kampung” concept is part of the culture, and most of us would like to be close to our parents and families.
“While there is an attraction in receiving a higher salary working abroad, if Malaysians can get a decent income here, their choice will perhaps be to remain in the country,” Noharuddin said.
He said as Malaysia country approached the 2015 deadline towards the Asean Economic Community (AEC), these concerns need to be addressed as the movement of people and talent will be freer after its realisation.
According to the World Bank Malaysian Economic Monitor (WBMEM) April 2011 report, the estimated Malaysian diaspora overseas stood at a million.
It said Singapore alone absorbed 57 per cent of this number, with most of the remainder residing in Australia, Brunei, the United Kingdom and the United States.