“Brain Drain”: Malaysians in Singapore!

Amid concerns of a "brain drain" of skilled workers leaving Malaysia, an official study into Malaysians living in Singapore has found that two-thirds of those living and working in Singapore earn a gross salary of S$1,500 (US$1,116) to S$3,599 a month. It also found that almost one in five Malaysian workers living in Singapore, or 18.5 per cent, earn S$3,600 to S$9,999 a month while the highest gross monthly salary is S$18,000 a month. About 1.2 per cent earn S$10,000 to S$17,999

The study, conducted in 2022, also said that 38 per cent of Malaysians here are employed. The rest are engaged in activities such as business, research and education, or are married to a Singaporean. Of those in a job, nearly three in four, or 74 per cent, are skilled or semi-skilled. A majority, or 62 per cent, of Malaysians living here are male.

Malaysians working in Singapore and Brunei were attracted by good job prospects, favourable working conditions, attractive salaries and an advantageous exchange rate. Key findings include:

A separate study released at the same time profiled Malaysians living in Brunei. That study was conducted in 2023. The trends identified in the Brunei study were broadly like those in the Singapore one. The study on the nation bordering the East Malaysian state of Sarawak showed that 92 per cent of Malaysians who live and work there are skilled or semi-skilled, and with 50 per cent of the Malaysian diaspora in Brunei being there for work. 

So, in Singapore its brawn drain not brain drain!

Reference:

Malaysian government study warns of 'brain drain', finds 3 in 4 Malaysians living, working in Singapore skilled or semi-skilled, Justin Ong Guang-Xi, CAN, 22 Feb 2024