HR Ministry to review TalentCorp processing times for Malaysian doctors seeking to return home

KL, Aug 19 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has directed the Human Resources Ministry to examine the processing times for applications from Malaysian doctors seeking to return to work in the country, according to government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil. The review, which covers applications under TalentCorp Malaysia Berhad, will assess the status of applications, processing times, and the number of approvals and rejections.

Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, announced this decision following concerns raised to the prime minister by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC). The aim is to provide the Cabinet with a clearer understanding of TalentCorp's handling of such applications and address the issues raised by the MMC. TalentCorp, a government agency under the Human Resources Ministry, is responsible for developing and managing national talent, particularly in attracting and facilitating the return of Malaysian professionals from abroad.

In recent times, the return of Malaysian doctors from overseas has garnered attention due to the country's pressing need for healthcare professionals. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad indicated last month that the majority of applications under TalentCorp's Returning Expert Programme in the healthcare sector are from the UK, Singapore, and Australia, with medical specialists and doctors constituting the largest groups applying for the programme.