Statement On Malaysia's Returning Expert Programme Driving Out More Talent, Economist Says, The Malay Mail Online, 22 June 2014

We refer to the article “Malaysia’s Returning Expert Programme Driving Out More Talent, Economist Says” (The Malay Mail Online, 22 June 2014). It is important to note that in today’s globalised economy, Malaysians choose where to work for many different reasons. The Government has therefore embarked on a comprehensive national transformation agenda to best develop and motivate talent with initiatives such as:
 

1. Targeting to emerge as a high income nation with Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of US$15,000 through the New Economic Model. Malaysia is on track with GNI per capita crossing the US$10,000 per capita mark in 2013
2. Driving higher-value-added investments through the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to generate a greater quantity and quality of professional opportunities across Malaysia’s identified key sectors
3. Enhancing liveability for all Malaysians through the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), with a focus on education, public transportation and crime

 At the same time, TalentCorp is implementing its own initiatives to complement these longer-term structural reforms and catalyse greater talent availability in the shorter-term. The Returning Expert Programme (REP) was originally introduced in 2001 to address Malaysia’s growing talent needs by facilitating the return of experienced professionals from abroad. The management of the programme was transferred to TalentCorp in January 2011. Since then, more than 2,500 Malaysian professionals have been approved under the REP programme, including from the ranks of CEOs and experienced Malaysians with technical expertise highly in demand under the ETP sectors. Earlier this year, the REP eligibility criteria were revised to create a more holistic set of criteria which take into account total work experience, income level and the availability of critical skills that are in high demand. TalentCorp works closely with key public and private sector partners to ensure its initiatives help create and motivate a skilled workforce that can realise Malaysia’s vision of becoming a high-income, knowledge-based economy by 2020. It should be emphasised that incentives alone do not attract or motivate talent. A key part of TalentCorp’s efforts will continue to see it working with employers to ensure that Malaysia’s talents have access to enriching and exciting professional opportunities. For more information on our initiatives, please visit www.talentcorp.com.my or follow us on twitter @TalentCorpMsia.

Mariena Abdul Malek

Head, Communications of Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)