The Science, Technology and Innovations Ministry will re-look its 'brain gain' scheme after the 94 Malaysian and foreign scientists recruited, left to seek greener pastures abroad.

Its Minister Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis told reporters at the Parliament lobby today that the scheme, implemented in 1995, saw the recruitment of 24 overseas-based Malaysian and 70 foreign scientists.

However, as of September this year, all of them have returned overseas due to 'grievances in payment and facilities that did not meet expectations'.

"We will re-look into the scheme and introduce a new one," said Jamaluddin, adding that the new scheme will be unveiled by the end of this year.

"We will study the 'brain gain' programme from the experiences of other countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and Germany," he said.

The brain gain scheme was put on hold for two years from1998 to 2000.

'Distance service'

Earlier, Jamaluddin was quizzed on Malaysian graduates abroad by Rosli Mat Hassan (BN-Dungun) during the Dewan Rakyat question-and-answer session.

Rosli wanted to know the statistics of Malaysian graduates who have rendered their expertise abroad and returned home, as well as the measures taken by the government to retain them in the country to achieve vision 2020.

The minister replied that a total of 30,000 Malaysian experts are serving abroad at present.

"If they could be brought back to Malaysia, they would contribute in enhancing the science and technology fields and the economic development," he added.

He said the ministry was also studying the possibility of 'distance service' from these scientists so that they can contribute to Malaysia without the need of actually residing here.