By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, Feb 27 — Selangor should prioritise global talent development over regional competition with Penang or Johor, an expert said.
TalentCorp Group chief strategy officer Nazrul Aziz said that approximately 1.86 million Malaysians reside abroad, surpassing the global average emigration rate of 3.6 per cent at 5.62 per cent.
A significant portion of 1.13 million, or some 60 per cent, are in Singapore.
“When it comes to brain drain, Malaysia’s overall emigration trend is within normal global patterns. However, the real area of concern is the significant outflow of talent to Singapore.
“In the Selangor context, the competition is not with other regions in Malaysia but with Singapore. People often talk about brain drain, which is why TalentCorp was established and shaped the narrative around it,” he said at the forum ‘Leadership in Action: Human Capital as the Catalyst for Transformational Growth’, at the Shah Alam Convention Centre yesterday.
Nazirul emphasised the increasing importance of artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and the green economy, stressing that Selangor and Malaysia must leverage these advancements to their advantage.
Developing a strong talent ecosystem is a long-term process, and understanding international trends is crucial for driving meaningful progress.
He said it is crucial for leaders to balance strategic vision with practical implementation.
While state-level governance focuses on operations and public needs, considering global economic and geopolitical factors is equally important to bring effective solutions back to the local level.
Other panellists were InspireShift Consulting founder Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, former Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia vice-chancellor Datuk Mohd Hamidi Abd Shukor, and Tun Razak Exchange human resources and administration director Farah Othman.
Meanwhile, when asked about the responsibilities between the Federal and state governments, Hamidi noted that government agencies and entities supporting small and medium enterprises and the state sometimes overlook the complexities of the challenges they face.
As a result, they may lean towards simpler solutions that do not always create a significant impact.
He said that without understanding these complexities, stakeholders risk relying on simplistic solutions instead of real transformation.
“It is our responsibility, especially for state subsidiaries in Selangor, to go beyond simply doing what we have always done and focus on transformation.
“First and foremost, we need to have a clear understanding, the capability to move forward, and we definitely need collaboration,” Hamidi said.
