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Malaysia is quietly losing some of its most skilled and educated citizens, a trend experts warn could have serious long-term consequences for the country's economy and innovation
Economic analyst Ahmed Abdul Latiff of Putra Business School (PBS) described the situation as more than just a global phenomenon.
"The rising number of Malaysians giving up their citizenship reflects deeper structural problems in the economy," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
"One of the main drivers is the mismatch between education and job opportunities [in Malaysia]," Ahmed explained.
He said highly qualified graduates and skilled professionals often cannot find positions that match their experience, prompting them to seek better opportunities abroad and contributing to talent migration.
Over the past five years, more than 61,000 Malaysians have renounced their citizenship, with women forming the majority of applicants
Singapore is the top destination, followed by Australia, Brunei, and other countries.
Ahmed warned that the consequences go beyond a shrinking workforce.
"Skilled individuals are the ones creating new ideas, conducting research, and driving technological development. When they leave, our capacity to innovate weakens. Over time, local industries risk becoming purely support services for foreign products, with little ability to develop their own technologies or ideas."
People watch as the sun sets over the Kuala Lumpur skyline.
Image via Mohd Rasfan/AFPThe loss of human capital also affects Malaysia's standing on the global stage
Without enough highly skilled workers, the country's shift toward high-value, knowledge-based industries could slow, leaving it less competitive internationally.
From the government's side, the National Registration Department (JPN) has safeguards in place to ensure citizenship applications are carefully vetted.
JPN Director-General Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias said every application is reviewed for merit, background, loyalty, and security, in line with the Federal Constitution and related laws.
"Citizenship comes not just with rights, but with responsibilities," he said.
"Those granted Malaysian citizenship must obey the law, show unwavering loyalty, and fulfil their civic duties."
Experts say Malaysia needs to act quickly to retain its talent by creating more high-quality jobs, improving wages, and nurturing growth in innovative, technology-driven sectors. Without these measures, the country risks falling behind in the global economic race and losing more of its brightest minds.
