GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia's next big leap in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector lies not in producing chips, but in designing them - and creating high-value, innovation-driven roles that will draw its best minds home.
Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said the industry, which contributes over 7% to the country's GDP, must show that it offers opportunities on par with global technology hubs.
"Malaysia must not only want its talent back, but show them what they can return to. When people see that our industries are working on cutting-edge technologies, they will naturally be drawn home," he said.
So, how do you convince the best and brightest minds to stay, or even return home?
For Wong, the answer goes beyond patriotic sentiment, it is about building a place where top engineers - Malaysians and foreigners alike - can truly thrive.
"There are two kinds of people.
"Those who study overseas and stay on because they find better opportunities, and those who leave Malaysia after working here for some time, because they see limited room to grow.
"We must bridge that gap and show that Malaysia can match their aspirations," he said.
Wong added that many young engineers who studied abroad chose to stay in countries like the United States, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore, where advanced design, testing and research opportunities were more established.
"If I'm designing microprocessors or developing AI systems, I'll only return if similar opportunities exist here," he said.
He added that the Penang's E&E cluster, once driven mainly by manufacturing, is now expanding into chip design and advanced testing, showing that Malaysia's industrial base is maturing into a knowledge-driven ecosystem.
This, Wong said, must be
accelerated if Malaysia wants to retain its engineers and attract others from abroad.
Wong noted that many Malaysians who return from abroad do so only later in life, often in their 40s or 50s, after building successful careers overseas.
"They come back for family or to give back, but their most productive years - when they could build teams or start companies - are spent abroad. We need to bring them home earlier," he said.
He added that doing so requires more than competitive pay. Malaysia, he said, must strengthen its ecosystem with quality schools, research facilities, an innovation-driven culture and the freedom to experiment - the very factors that make global hubs like Silicon Valley and Hsinchu so attractive.
At the same time, Wong said attracting foreign engineers should not be viewed as a threat but as an opportunity.
"If the world's best are here, our own people can learn from them. They won't have to go abroad to gain that experience," he said.
He pointed out that several multinational companies are already setting up design and R&D centres in Penang and Kulim, providing exposure and collaboration opportunities for Malaysian engineers.
"The more world-class people we bring in, the more Malaysians will see they can build world-class careers without leaving," he said.
Wong said government initiatives through TalentCorp, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and the National Semiconductor Strategy were key moves in positioning Malaysia as a regional technology hub.
However, he stressed that retaining and nurturing engineers must go beyond policy.
"People stay when they feel their work matters - when they know they're part of something bigger," he said.
He urged both the government and industry to ensure continuous career growth, access to innovation funding and a workplace culture that rewards creativity.
"We must make Malaysia a place where our engineers can dream big. When they see that the work here is just as advanced as anywhere else, that's when brain drain turns into brain gain," he added.
For Wong, the "Malaysian Dream" must evolve - from stability and comfort to innovation, ambition and belonging.
"Malaysia can be a place where local and global talents come together to build something world-class. That's the kind of dream that keeps people rooted and attracts others to join us," he said.