Malaysian talent working abroad, inclduing people like former Petronas CEO Hassan Merican, can still contribute to the nation, a minister told Parliament today in reply a question on brain drain.

NONE Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop ( right ) was replying to a supplementary question from Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan).

Lim asked why eminent businessmen like Hassan, who has done so much for the country, were not being retained to work at home, instead of just being showered with gratitude and then allowed to be pinched by foreign companies.

"I an sure that Hassan will continue to contribute, especially through his business network," Nor Mohamed replied during Question Time today.

The minister then gave London School of Economics professor Danny Quah, an expert who has migrated overseas but continued to contribute to Malaysia by being on panels that advise the government on economic matters, as an example.

Quoting a World Bank report, Nor Mohamed described brain drain as “a wave to be ridden and not a trend to be turned”, adding that Malaysia too could learn to benefit from this movement as the government cannot stop Malaysians from migrating to find a better future.

However, he said, TalentCorp can take advantage of the vast diaspora of Malaysians overseas by enticing the professionals and experts among them to the vast job  opportunities created by the Entry Point Projects or to use the business networks of these Malaysian expatriates to benefit the local economy.

‘Terengganu to be repaid within 10 years’

Meanwhile, also during Question Time, Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim told the House that the RM873.4 million that the federal government borrowed from the ‘Terengganu Special Fund’ would be repaid via scheduled payments.

“The government will pay back the RM771.3444 million used to build the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) houses and for other expenses in stages over 10 years. The amount paid thus far is RM100 million,” Lim said in answer to Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut (PAS-Besut)

Of the amount borrowed, he said, RM102.056 million is for the RMR housing in the state while the rest was used for the same schemes elsewhere in Malaysia.

The RMR programme was instituted to assist those in the low-income group, like farmers and fishermen who are without a home or live in dilapidated houses but possess their own land, to be able to build comfortable and and complete homes for themselves.