Firms can woo Malaysians abroad
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The government of Malaysia now allows companies to make applications to recruit Malaysian professionals abroad under the returning expert programme (REP).
This factor will encourage more Malaysian professionals working overseas to come home and help drive the nation’s economic transformation programme (RTP), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
Previously, applications for REP were made only by individuals planning to return.
“The shift towards REP applications by employers is in line with the government’s demand-driven and industry-led approach to the ETP,” Nor said after chairing the 7th REP committee meeting in Putrajaya yesterday.
He said more Malaysian professionals abroad are returning home due to the availability of attractive opportunities, and because the ETP is showing results.
Last year, 680 applications were approved.
“With about six more months to go [this year], we are optimistic more than 1,000 applications could be approved,” he said.
“So far, 512 have been approved, an indication of the ETP’s success,” he said.
“The increased number of REP approvals indicated growing confidence among top Malaysian talent abroad of the country’s economic future,” said Nor, adding the factor that could contribute to the expected big number of approvals this year is the ruling allowing applications for REP to be made by companies.
Nor said Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd took over the administration of the REP 18 months ago and the number of applications it managed was 1,192.
Between 2001 and 2010, before TalentCorp took over, there were 1,130 applications.
