2027 Budget must tackle brain drain, retain semiconductor talent
KUALA LUMPUR: The government must introduce bold policy shifts in the 2027 Budget to address brain drain in the high-tech sector and retain Malaysia’s semiconductor talent, said a student of International Affairs at Ming Chuan University in Taipei.
The 2027 Budget must address Malaysia's brain drain in the high-tech sector, particularly in the semiconductor industry, according to Farid Maulud, a student of International Affairs at Ming Chuan University in Taipei. Despite the growth in manufacturing investments, entry-level median salaries for engineering and technical graduates remain stagnant, and about 5.5% of highly educated Malaysians migrate abroad, a rate higher than the global average.
To retain Malaysia's semiconductor talent and transition the country from a semiconductor assembly hub to a high-income design and innovation economy, Farid suggests several policy pillars for the 2027 Budget. These include offering equity and tax incentives for local R&D, prioritizing IC design-focused execution in the National Semiconductor Strategy, and establishing dignified wages through competitive domestic compensation.
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