23/12/2025

TUESDAY | DEC 23, 2025 5 ‘Revival of local council elections remains unlikely’ PETALING JAYA: The revival of local council elections in Malaysia remains “mission impossible,” experts say, despite renewed discussion following the appointment of a new Federal Territories (FT) minister. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said attention turned to the issue after Hannah Yeoh was transferred from Youth and Sports minister to FT minister, making her the first non-Malay to hold the post. Yeoh’s party, the DAP, has long advocated local council elections as part of broader decentralisation reforms. “DAP has been championing local council elections since taking control of Penang in 2008,” Mazlan said. “The issue was raised again during the formation of the Pakatan Harapan 1.0 government in 2018, and the party has remained consistent in its stance since then.” However, he stressed that the appointment of DAP ministers does not guarantee policy implementation. “Ministers do not have absolute power. Any proposal must first be deliberated at Cabinet and receive collective agreement before a Bill can be submitted for parliamentary approval. “In this case, I do not think that will happen, as the proposal is likely to be rejected at the Cabinet stage,” he said. Several political hurdles remain. “Opposition from Malay-based parties is a major obstacle. “PN, PAS and Bersatu are strongly against local government elections. Even non-Malay parties within PN, such as Gerakan, lack the influence to counter them,” Mazlan said. He added that Umno is unlikely to support the proposal, while PKR and Amanah would probably refrain from endorsing it. He also highlighted the political sensitivity of the issue. “Historical political narratives influence how some segments of society view local government elections. “There is a perception they could shift existing political dynamics, particularly given differences between urban and rural constituencies. “Although this perception is not necessarily accurate, some groups may use it for political leverage.” Despite the renewed discussion, Mazlan does not expect Yeoh to prioritise local government elections. “She would be aware of the sensitivities surrounding the issue. Her position as FT minister does not automatically provide the space to champion it, given the broader political implications and potential opposition response,” he said. As such, the proposal is likely to remain largely theoretical. “In the current political climate, where no party holds a clear majority, few parties, particularly Malay-based ones, are interested in reopening discussions on local government elections. “It is difficult to predict when, or if, this proposal will gain broad acceptance,” Mazlan added. Local government elections were practised in Malaysia prior to 1965 but were suspended during the Indonesia– Malaysia Confrontation and later abolished, replaced by state-appointed councillors. Calls to revive them, especially in Kuala Lumpur, have resurfaced periodically, driven by concerns over accountability, service delivery and urban governance. Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Remote engagement to tackle brain drain

o Experts say move helps but warn wage gaps, governance and rigid labour markets must be addressed

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

confidence in domestic career opportunities and the country’s ability to build a competitive, future-ready talent ecosystem. TalentCorp Group CEO Edward Ling said global mobility remains a defining feature of today’s workforce, with an estimated 2.43 million Malaysians – about 7.1% of the population – living abroad. However, frequent cross-border commuting with Singapore means diaspora figures do not always reflect permanent emigration. Ling said the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone is expected to attract Malaysian professionals globally, offering high-value jobs, competitive wages, modern work environments and attractive tax policies. “In line with these developments, REP applications increased by 26% this year, signalling stronger intent among Malaysians PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is rethinking how it taps its overseas talent. Rather than relying solely on the permanent return of skilled Malaysians, the country is increasingly encouraging remote and flexible contributions – a necessary evolution, experts say but one that cannot replace deeper structural reforms at home. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia international relations and strategy studies senior lecturer Dr Aizat Khairi said Malaysia’s diaspora – estimated at 1 to 1.2 million, many highly skilled – makes relying on physical return alone unrealistic. Initiatives such as TalentCorp’s “brain circulation”, the Returning Expert Programme (REP) and the MyHeart portal reflect a more pragmatic approach, allowing Malaysians abroad to contribute without relocating. “Remote contribution is most effective for mentoring, short advisory roles, market access, research collaboration and project-based work, which don’t require relocating,” he said. However, Aizat cautioned that without addressing domestic issues such as wage gaps, governance and rigid labour markets, the impact remains limited. He described remote engagement as a useful tool to maintain professional and emotional ties to Malaysia and slow talent loss – but not a complete solution. He urged policymakers to recognise that migration today is increasingly circular. “Malaysians may leave, return and leave again at different stages of life, and policies should be designed with this flexibility in mind,” he said. He recommended clearer pathways for short-term return, such as visiting fellowships, sabbaticals and fixed-term postings, and called for modernising tax and social protection rules to let remote workers contribute without penalties. “Attracting global firms that support hybrid work could allow Malaysians to work locally for

Aizat said Malaysians may leave, return and leave again at different stages of life, and policies should be designed with this flexibility in mind. – SUNPIC

“These examples show Malaysians abroad want to contribute back to the country, even if they are not ready for a permanent return,” Ling said. Performance metrics go beyond return numbers, tracking career progression, leadership impact and long-term retention. Under MyHeart, success is measured by the number and depth of collaborations, including knowledge transfer, mentoring, innovation projects and investment linkages. “Over the past five years, TalentCorp facilitated over 1,200 returns through REP. In 2025 alone, nine collaboration projects involved 15 diaspora members from Japan, the UK, Australia, Singapore, and Thailand, benefiting around 2,000 local talents,” Ling said. – By KIRTINEE RAMESH “What Malaysia needs is a clear, long-term diaspora strategy with measurable goals, tiered engagement and professionalised institutions closely linked to economic and foreign policy priorities,” Aizat said. Economist Doris Liew added that while Malaysia’s labour market appears strong, structural weaknesses such as stagnant wages, limited career growth and a mid-skilled workforce are driving top talent abroad. “Chronic low wages and weak career ladders mean Malaysia increasingly retains average performers, while its more productive workers leave,” she said, noting that rigid workplaces and low flexibility are out of step with global standards. She said these constraints directly affect industrial competitiveness, with domestic firms struggling to move into higher-value production and foreign investors reconsidering Malaysia. Compounding the problem is an education and training system that fails to meet modern industry needs, leading to persistent skill shortages in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and digital services. While diaspora-driven investment and knowledge transfer can accelerate upskilling, Liew said broad-based reform in education, workforce development and TVET is essential for sustaining Malaysia’s economic ambitions.

“Improving global talent rankings reflect growing confidence in Malaysia’s economic prospects and career opportunities,” Ling said. He also highlighted brain gain initiatives, attracting highly skilled foreign talent through Employment and Resident Passes. Industry trends among REP returnees align with Malaysia’s economic priorities, with top sectors including oil and gas, financial services, ICT, global business services, electrical and electronics and healthcare. “Returning Malaysians fill critical skills gaps while bringing international experience, leadership capabilities and global networks,” Ling said. TalentCorp’s Malaysia@Heart (MyHeart) initiative enables Malaysians abroad to contribute without relocating. foreign employers,” he added. He also suggested more robust digital platforms linking diaspora skills to national needs, measuring success through mentorships, joint ventures and co-authored research. Aizat identified wage and opportunity gaps – especially compared with Singapore, limited career progression, perceptions of weak meritocracy and dissatisfaction with governance, cost of living and public services as key drivers pushing Malaysians abroad. Pull factors overseas include higher salaries and stronger professional ecosystems in countries such as Singapore, Australia, the US, and the UK. Despite this, many Malaysians remain closely connected to home through family, remittances, property investments and diaspora networks. He also said Malaysia’s single-citizenship policy limits long-term diaspora engagement, forcing skilled migrants to choose between foreign citizenship and ties to Malaysia. “Easing re-entry for former citizens with special residence visas or flexible tax and property rules would help,” he said. Citing international examples, he pointed to India’s Overseas Citizenship scheme, China’s high-impact expert programmes and Ireland’s Global Irish strategy, which leverages diaspora networks for investment and market access.

Return of Malaysians signals confidence in growth PETALING JAYA: More than 1,200 highly skilled Malaysians have returned home over the past five years through the Returning Expert Programme (REP), signalling growing abroad to participate in Malaysia’s next phase of economic development,” he said. TalentCorp supports both permanent return and overseas contribution, ensuring Malaysians remain connected. Examples include a London partnership that trained 60 Sabah schoolteachers in robotics and AI, benefiting over 120 students and a Malaysia– Japan Visionaries Conference led by researcher Dr Amy Poh, drawing over 300 participants.