THE Penang government is committed to ensuring local talents, especially those from the engineering field, are retained in the state.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, during the Penang Socio Economic Recovery Consultative Council (PSERCC) meeting today, urged two PSERCC members to submit a proposal on how the state could assist the Federal Government on retaining talents locally, as well as looking at the possibility of hiring more skilled foreign workers.
The two members are Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who helms the Human Resources, Education, Science and Technology portfolio, as well as state Entrepreneurial Development, Trade and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain.
“It is very important that we send in a proposal, which will help us to have a better understanding of the current Federal talent policy.
“I have instructed the relevant parties to write to the Economic Action Council Secretariat on this.
“I also understand that Prof Ramasamy will also soon be organising an engagement session with all the PSERCC members and relevant stakeholders to discuss the issue of retaining talent in the state.
“It is hoped that these efforts can be accelerated for the benefit of our state, and most importantly, to stay competitive while safeguarding the state’s economy,” Chow said during the PSERCC meeting in Komtar today.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said local talents are widely being absorbed by multinational companies from across the globe.
“We currently have about 1.7 million Malaysians working in overseas.
“We have told the relevant parties that the country is in need of external workforce to work here, especially foreign students, who have graduated in the field of engineering, but there is difficulty in securing work permits.
“Not only engineering, but also other fields like information technology, finance, supply chain and others.
“It is undoubtedly clear that due to our relatively weakened currency status, our homegrown talents are making their moves elsewhere.
“Malaysia has got to strengthen its currency as well as re-look into effective strategies of retaining while also using talents from other countries,” Wong said during his speech.
On the other hand, Chow’s special investment adviser Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon has urged his fellow PSERCC members to join hands and submit the proposal to the Federal Government as soon as possible.
“This paper will reflect on Penang’s perspective on the talent issue, and also it should give us a clearer picture of existing challenges at the Federal-level, if there happens to be any,” he said.
Northern Corridor Implementation Agency (NCIA) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John, who was present during the meeting, also concurred with the proposal.
Other issues like tourism (domestic, international and medical), housing, digitalisation, investment and infrastructure were discussed as well.
Also present during the meeting was Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari and state Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud