Exploring Global Partnerships to Reduce Malaysia’s Brain Drain Through Knowledge Transfer, Diaspora Ties, and Ethics (Aligned with SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals)

Abstract

Brain drain, the global migration of educated and skilled professionals, is one of the prominent problems of national development for Malaysia. Since the 1970s, the country has registered an outflow of talent for the domains of science, technology, medicine, engineering, and finance. This is the result of various interrelated push-and-pull factors like wage differentials, restricted vertical social mobility, political instability, and lucrative opportunities overseas. Singapore, Australia, the UK, and the US are the preferred emigration destinations for Malaysian professionals. Of the 1.86 million Malaysians living abroad, more than half are in semi-skilled or skilled positions. The impacts are dire: lack of innovative capacity, poor research productivity, and understaffed healthcare, not to mention the wider implications on Malaysia’s financial governance. All of these jeopardize the country’s efforts to transform into a high-income, knowledge-based economy. This essay assesses the causes and trends of brain drain in Malaysia with particular focus on the years between 2020 and 2025. It aims to show the consequences of phenomenon on the competitiveness of the country, public service delivery, and socio-economic equity. It addresses the structural problems of insufficient R&D funding in the country alongside the lack of amenities to support the culture of innovation. Insights from nations that have effectively reversed brain drain, like India, China, South Korea, and Ireland, provide useful strategies such as diaspora outreach initiatives, attractive return fellowships, enhancement of research infrastructure, and collaborations between industry and academia. Drawing from these insights, the essay suggests diverse partnership models for Malaysia, encompassing government-to-government agreements, collaborations between academic institutions, industry connections, and platforms for diaspora engagement. It is determined that addressing Malaysia’s brain drain needs extensive policy changes that enhance job conditions, bolster innovation systems, and leverage the diaspora’s skills via knowledge exchange and circular migration.