From Concerned Malaysian
I have been reading with great interest the recent news reports and articles on the brain drain Malaysia faces.
The elusive public services department (JPA) and Mara scholarships, to name just two, have always been a tightly contested pursuit among school leavers.
Every year the government allocates billions of ringgit to fund the crème de la crème to further their tertiary education in leading institutions locally and overseas.
These scholarships often support tuition fees and stipend for undergraduate studies, mainly in science, technology, engineering, medicine and law.
In return, the awardees sign a bond. Upon completing their studies, scholars have to report to the PSD to serve their bond in the public sector.
In 2011, TalentCorp also initiated a scholarship talent attraction and retention initiative for scholars to serve their bond in the private sector.
The scholarship fund must otherwise be repaid in full by those unable to fulfil their bond.
Qualitative accounts from past scholars suggest a substantial number of peers in their respective cohorts did not return to Malaysia upon completion of their studies nor repay their bond as required.
It is unclear if any arrangements were made between these scholars and JPA as well as other scholarship providers under such circumstances.
However, these are anecdotal and there is a dearth of information on this matter.
The JPA should be obligated to make public regularly the number of scholars taxpayers funded, those who fulfilled their bond and, more importantly, those who either did not return to Malaysia nor repay their bond amount.
It is also critical for the JPA to present comprehensive plans on how public funds could be better invested in ensuring that the young and bright Malaysians we support can contribute to the country in areas of need on their return.
These plans should be reviewed periodically to meet the market dynamics.
There should be systematic follow-ups to ensure the returns on these investments are justified.
Studying and living abroad at taxpayers’ expense should not be an entitlement. The relevant agencies and policymakers must address this decades-old conundrum.
It is disheartening that the best medical graduates from top local universities leave Malaysia for greener pastures.
I agree with the suggestions that systemic changes are needed to retain the best and brightest.
However, investing in the future of exceptional young Malaysians only to have them contribute to the scientific, social and economic development elsewhere is not part of the solution.
Concerned Malaysian is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.