“Returning Expert Programme” For M'sian Professionals, Students Highlighted At New York Consulate

NEW YORK, June 12 (Bernama) -- As a way to meeting the shortage of skilled labour in Malaysia, the Malaysian consulate general in New York highlights the so-called “Returning Expert Programme” to Malaysian professionals and students who would like to return home and contribute in their particular field of expertise. Malaysian Consul-General Syed Mohammed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman, in an interview with Bernama, said that his office tries to provide information to would-be returnees on the prospect of practising their professions or working in their field of expertise in Malaysia. "Of course, the return is purely voluntary on the part of the returnees. Having said that, I would like to point out that this is also one reason why our visiting business and public sector leaders like to meet Malaysian students, professionals and experts, and update the latter on the opportunities available back home. "Our government’s policy is to attract Malaysian talent back home. My role is to disseminate information to the Malaysian professionals so that they can judge and decide for themselves of their own free will if they want to return home,” Syed Bakri explained. According to the consul-general, a Kuala Lumpur-based organisation, Talent Corp, manages the “Returning Expert Programme" which appeals to professionals such as scientists, engineers, doctors and other experts badly needed in Malaysia. The Malaysian consulate-general in New York, which recently handled the visit of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was accompanied by his wife, also worked behind the scenes to put together a busy programme for the guests in New York. Najib, who visited the New York Academy of Sciences, attended the 2nd Meeting of the Global Sciences and Innovation Advisory Council which is chaired by him. Besides providing consular services, the consulate general, meanwhile, has also assumed functions aimed at promoting trade and investments. "We coordinate with Matrade (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and the Mida (Malaysian Industrial Development Authority) offices here," Syed Bakri said. Syed Bakri said that his consulate’s priority is to look after the interest of the Malaysian community in his large consular jurisdiction which covers 15 federal states. "We care for our nationals. Looking after the interest of the Malaysian community here is a major function of this consular representation. Indeed, our relations with the Malaysian community are cordial and good," emphasised Syed Bakri. Speaking on the consulate’s relationship with the Malaysian community in his jurisdiction, the consul-general pointed out that he took a “keen personal interest” in the welfare of Malaysians living in the country. He said that the consulate-general provided all kinds of consular and other services to Malaysians in the United States, regardless of their status in the country. According to estimates, there are more than 10,000 Malaysian nationals - legal and otherwise - living alone in the New York east coast region. An accurate estimate is, however, not available because, according to the consulate general, not all Malaysians register themselves with it. This is, particularly, true of Malaysians living illegally in the country who tend to shy away from registration with the consulate-general. Syed Bakri maintained that his “reaching-out-to-Malaysians” strategy is beginning to bear fruit. “We have been organising events to which Malaysians are invited. For example, during the visit of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak, in early spring, we had a large turnout of Malaysians, many of whom were students and professionals, living and working on the east coast,” he added. It was “professionally satisfying”, the consul-general maintained, that his office was issuing passports to Malaysian citizens “in just one day”. “The entire procedures followed for the issuance of passports have been greatly simplified. Many of the old documentary requirements have been cut down to facilitate expeditious issue of passports,” Syed Bakri claimed. One of the basic difficulties in the past was for Malaysian citizens to produce their old passports. However, this was a problem for those who have been living here for many years and unable to find their old documents. “We do understand and appreciate the fact that many cannot find their old papers after living here for decades. We have done away with many of the old requirements and are accepting alternative documentary evidence, assessing it on a case-by-case basis. "The approach is to simplify the paperwork requirements aimed at not causing any hardship to Malaysians,” Syed Bakri said. The consulate-general has started to issue machine-readable passports with a built-in chip that can be virtually swiped at immigration scanning machines for returning Malaysian nationals, thus facilitating their quick clearance at a Malaysian airport without having to stand in the long-winding lines of passengers and get an entry stamp at airport immigration counters. “That problem has been eliminated with the introduction of machine-readable passports,” he said. To feel the pulse of the community and find out the needs of the Malaysian community, the consul-general regularly schedules meetings with community leaders and others, often inviting them home for informal talks and knowing their views. -- BERNAMA