By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, June 3 — For years, Malaysia’s brain drain has been a matter of concern, with talented professionals leaving in search of better prospects abroad. Yet in recent times, an encouraging new trend is emerging.
According to Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), the national agency tasked with encouraging Malaysians to return home, applications for its Returning Expert Programme (REP) have surged by 19 per cent from 2021 to 2024, with approvals increasing by 24 per cent over the same period.
What draws them home? Family is the strongest pull — a reason cited by 59 per cent of returnees, TalentCorp group chief executive officer Thomas Mathew told Media Selangor.
Career opportunities, relocation needs, and a sense of nation-building also play key roles, with Malaysia’s regional economic transformation, such as with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and Penang’s rise as the Silicon Valley of the East, inspiring many to return.
“All this shows is that while challenges remain, the long-term commitment among Malaysian professionals to give back to their home country is strong, and we are working to make the environment even more welcoming for them to do so,” Mathew said.
He added that even during the Covid-19 pandemic, close to 90 per cent of REP-approved Malaysians have come home. As borders reopened, the return rate settled at between 60 per cent and 75 per cent, and continues to grow.
According to Mathew, about 20 per cent of the returnees are in the oil and gas sector, followed by financial services (15 per cent), information and communication technology and global business services (12 per cent), electrical and electronics (8 per cent), and healthcare (8 per cent).
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Image for illustration purposes only. — Picture via UNSPLASH/YAOPEY YONG[/caption]
Coming home with purpose
Among these returnees was Umar Zakir Abdul Hamid, who came home in late 2023 after five years in Finland and Sweden, and is now the international business strategy and global expansion planning head at Proton International.
During his time abroad, he worked at the forefront of next-generation electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, gaining valuable international experience.
In an interview with Media Selangor, Umar said his decision to return was driven not only by familial obligations and a desire to reconnect with home, but by a deeper sense of purpose — to contribute to Malaysia’s electric vehicle industry and position the nation as a serious player in the global mobility landscape.
“Malaysia has all the right ingredients for success,” he said, citing the country’s diversity and potential.
While acknowledging Malaysia’s progress in areas such as healthcare and infrastructure, Umar spoke candidly about challenges that continue to push Malaysian talent overseas.
“The country is definitely on the right track, but there’s a lack of trust in young professionals. In Europe, I was given space to experiment and lead innovation. That’s something we need to cultivate more of here,” he said.
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Proton International's international business strategy and global expansion planning head, Umar Zakir Abdul Hamid, on May 25, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
In 2023, Umar Zakir received the Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation/Denso Young Industry Leadership Award: an honour presented by a leading professional association dedicated to engineering standards and innovation, especially in the automotive, aerospace, and commercial vehicle sectors.
Reflecting on his experience abroad, he believes that to fully harness the value of returning talent, Malaysia needs leadership that embraces the ideas of Gen Y and Gen Z, supported by clear frameworks to integrate the returnees.
“We have to move beyond rigid hierarchies. Talented people can contribute a lot, but only if they’re given room to do so.”
Umar also highlighted the importance of recognising and investing in homegrown expertise, calling for a shift in how Malaysia values its talent.
Still, he is optimistic, and believes returnees must come home with the right mindset: with purpose, and without expecting special treatment.
“This is our home. If we want to see change, we must be part of it. Contributing meaningfully, while also being given meaningful roles, is what will make all the difference,” he said.
Umar also acknowledged TalentCorp’s ongoing efforts in addressing the brain drain, especially its initiatives that support returning professionals.
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New beginnings at home
For plastic, reconstructive and laser surgeon Dr Kenneth Kok Lee Mun and consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon Dr Melissa Tan Ley Hui, a married couple, the Covid-19 pandemic led them to reevaluate their futures and return to Malaysia after 28 years abroad and building successful careers in the United Kingdom.
“The turning point came during the Covid-19 pandemic. When the world came to a standstill and international borders closed, the reality of being separated from our families truly hit home” said Dr Tan, who hails from Sabah.
“It was time to go home for good, to be closer to our ageing parents and extended family, and to realign our priorities, both personally and professionally.”
Still, the decision was not made lightly. Their biggest concerns were professional, as they had to consider Malaysia’s healthcare bureaucracy and uproot their daughter’s education and lifestyle.
“One of our biggest fears was how the transition would affect our daughter. She had already started her early primary education in the UK and had to adjust to a completely new environment and lifestyle.
“Saying goodbye to close friends, many of whom had become like family after decades, was incredibly difficult. Leaving behind such a well-established support network was an emotional hurdle,” they said.
Dr Kok, from Petaling Jaya, left behind a leading National Health Service reconstructive and skin cancer practice, as well as a successful private aesthetic and laser clinic, while Dr Tan left her consultant role at a high-volume breast cancer unit, where she also served as a trainer, examiner, and clinical researcher.
“Returning meant starting over: rebuilding our reputations, professional relationships, and most importantly, the trust of a new patient community,” they said.
Work has not been without challenges. The doctors highlighted systemic inefficiencies, strict online regulations for specialists, and outdated fee structures that don’t reflect today’s costs.
Despite this, they are optimistic. The couple is especially heartened by the growing emphasis on early screening and more accessible health packages offered by private hospitals in Malaysia.
They added that they returned to Malaysia to advocate for issues such as breast health, skin surveillance, and improved healthcare collaboration to enhance patient care through meaningful dialogue.
Today, they live 10 minutes away from Dr Kok’s parents and are within walking distance of their daughter’s school — a rare convenience in a city as busy as Kuala Lumpur.
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Image for illustration purposes only. — Picture via PIXABAY[/caption]
An evolving nation
While rising living costs, immigration hurdles, and discrimination abroad are often seen as reasons Malaysians return, Mathew of TalentCorp said emotional factors like a sense of purpose and belonging are more significant.
“Our returnees frequently tell us they want to share their knowledge and uplift industries back in Malaysia. Cultural and work-life differences abroad, such as long overtime hours in places like Japan or South Korea, have made some reevaluate their priorities.”
In the end, he said, it is the combination of family, purpose, and a desire to contribute that brings many Malaysians back, more so than external pressures.
He said Malaysia’s transformation is appealing, with the country experiencing a surge in demand for skilled talent, especially in the semiconductor, digital technology, green economy, and artificial intelligence sectors.
Returnees are also drawn by evolving workplace norms. Initiatives like TalentCorp’s Flexible Working Arrangements@Workplace are creating more family-friendly environments that appeal to global professionals seeking both career growth and quality of life.
To support returning Malaysians, Mathew said TalentCorp offers structured assistance through REP, which includes tax incentives and the MyHeart platform, which helps with job placement, immigration, and education.
While structural challenges remain, especially in ensuring competitive salaries and job-qualification matches, ongoing efforts such as the Future Skills Talent Council and Industry-Academia Collaboration are helping bridge the gap.
“Over the years, Malaysians have ventured abroad to build their expertise and experience on the global stage. Today, we are seeing a positive shift. The momentum in Malaysia’s digital economy, especially artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and the green economy, is creating new opportunities that are bringing our talents home.
“Tech and digital sectors, in particular, are becoming strong pull factors, and reflect a shared aspiration (of citizens abroad) to be part of Malaysia’s next phase of growth,” Mathew said.
