MALAYSIAN PM ON MOVE TO LURE MALAYSIAN BRAINS BACK HOME

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, July 22 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said
the government will have to create more "buzz" about working in Malaysia so that
Malaysian professionals will opt to work in the country rather than overseas.

He said one of the reasons Malaysian professionals working abroad were not
so excited about wanting to return home was the relatively low wages in
Malaysia.

"It's not because of the lack of 'Malaysian Spirit', but simply because
we're not competitive, particularly in terms of the wages that we offer to
professionals.

"So that's one area that we should address when we table our new economic
model," Najib said at a dialogue in Abu Dhabi Monday with a group of Malaysian
professionals and representatives of Malaysian companies operating in Abu Dhabi
and Dubai.

The prime minister said efforts to transform Malaysia into a knowledge-based
and innovative economy would be hampered by the lack of Malaysian brains and
talent.

"We've got to have the brains. It's not about the bricks and mortar; it's
about the software, talent, skills," said Najib.

He said any measures to be taken by the government should not only be
attractive to talented Malaysians but foreign professionals as well.

"There's a negative flow in the sense that more Malaysians would prefer to
work overseas if they have the opportunity. We have to reduce that so that the
flow would be more towards them wanting to work in Malaysia."

Najib noted that some Malaysians would still choose to work abroad but "the
net position should be there would be more excitement about working in
Malaysia".

Offering a piece of advice during the gathering in Abu Dhabi, he said:
"Don't forget to say good things about Malaysia.


"I leave it to you whether you want to say good things about the
government but whatever it is, do say good things about Malaysia."

Present were Malaysian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Yahaya
Abdul Jabar and consul-general in Dubai Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin.

Najib, who was accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor, made a
brief stopover in Abu Dhabi Monday on his way home after visiting Egypt and
Saudi Arabia.

-- BERNAMA