'Death knell for brain-drain reversal'

Australia’s new work visa policy for graduates will spark a massive brain drain from Malaysia,  DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has warned.

According to media reports today, foreign students in Australia will soon be eligible for work visas lasting two to four years after graduation, under revised immigration rules to be introduced next year.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen was reported to have said that the expansion of the Skilled Graduate visa scheme would “help to enhance the competitiveness” of Australia's A$18 billion (RM57.5bil) inbound student industry.

However, Lim described this as “the final nail in the coffin for Malaysia’s 4Ds of Deficits, Debts, Deceits and brain Drain”, pointing out that an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Malaysians are studying in Australia.

“When this new policy is implemented ..., our country can almost be assured of an exodus of talent as they will definitely stay on to work in Australia where they can enjoy greater salaries, greater freedom and greater prospects in both life and career,” he said in a statement.

“Why is it that the Australian government is able to be so proactive and quick to grab opportunities while our own government is so lackadaisical and merely standing by as droves and droves of Malaysian talent continue to leak out of the country?”

Despite the efforts of the Talent Corp Malaysia to reverse the brain drain, it could only entice 680 Malaysian professionals to return last year, and 400 in the first four months of this year.

“While the improvement is steady, the question arises whether a mere couple of hundred Malaysians returning can compare to the tens of thousands who will now inevitably make Australia their home after completing their studies there,” noted Lim, also the Bagan MP.

Until and unless Malaysia shatters the glass ceiling by addressing fundamental flaws with regard to its failed policies of rewarding mediocrity over meritocracy, he said, Malaysia will never be able to attain the “fabled high-income status that the prime minister is shouting about”.

“Coupled with the 3Ds of a spiralling national deficit, which is set to reach RM59.7 billion after the supplementary budget tabled last week, a national debt that is set to reach the RM500 billion mark by the end of this year excluding contingent liabilities, and the continuous deceit by a government that is trying to pull wool over our eyes, this latest policy announcement by the Australian government is almost certain to spark a massive brain drain that will be the fourth and final D in Malaysia’s 4Ds dilemma,” he added.